Former India player Aakash Chopra has applauded Hardik Pandya for playing well in games against the Indian team’s arch-rivals Pakistan. He added that the seam-bowling all-rounder is the highest wicket-taker against Pakistan in ICC events.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel ‘Aakash Chopra’, he said, “Who has taken the most wickets against Pakistan in ICC events? Names like Zaheer Khan, Mitchell Starc, Lasith Malinga, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee and Shane Warne might be coming to your mind. Cancel everyone, it is Hardik Pandya. It’s a mind-numbing stat. He has taken 14 wickets. Mitchell Starc has 11, Ashish Nehra has 10, and Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan and Courtney Walsh have nine each. He has got something against them. Pakistan have done something wrong seeing which he gets angry.”
He also cited examples to said that Hardik pandya stood out in virtually every game against Pakistan before his crucial performance in the 2025 Champions Trophy clash as well.
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“You can see his numbers in any game against Pakistan. In the Asia Cup 2016, he got out for zero but picked up three wickets while conceding eight runs. In a group stage match of the 2017 Champions Trophy, he scored an unbeaten 20 off six balls and picked up two wickets. After that, in the Champions Trophy final, he was fighting alone, scored 76 runs off 43 balls and picked up a wicket,” Chopra shared.
“He took two wickets and scored 26 runs in the 2019 World Cup. After that the 2022 Asia Cup, Player of the Match, unbeaten 33 and 3/25. Then the 2022 T20 World Cup, he scored 40 runs, took down (Mohammad) Nawaz because of which he had to bowl the 20th over, and took three wickets. He took two wickets in the 2023 World Cup and didn’t get to bat. He scored 87 runs off 90 balls in the 2023 Asia Cup and didn’t bowl. He picked up two wickets in the 2024 T20 World Cup,” he again added.
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Aakash Chopra also added that Hardik Pandya raises his game in all crunch matches and not only against Pakistan as well.
“It’s not only about Pakistan. He has delivered in clutch situations. In the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa, Heinrich Klaasen was hitting but who got him out – Hardik Pandya. Who dismissed David Miller in the last over – Hardik Pandya. Shami had limped and gone out (in the 2025 Champions Trophy). Who dismissed Babar Azam – Hardik Pandya. Whenever the team is stuck, he comes up with these clutch performances. Many players provide the glamor but he is the only one who provides balance. Hardik Pandya is the Indian team’s life in white-ball cricket. He is the most valuable player. What he brings to the table, nobody else does,” Aakash Chopra concluded.
