Hardik Pandya may have missed nearly two months of international cricket, but there was no sign of rustiness as he scored a match-winning half-century on India’s return recently. The star all-rounder struck an unbeaten 59 before taking a wicket as well. India beat South Africa by 101 runs in the Cuttack T20I earlier this month.
Pandya had sustained an injury to his left quadriceps during the Asia Cup 2025, which meant he missed the tour of Australia and the recent ODI series against South Africa at home. He made an immediate impact upon return to competitive cricket, scoring a blistering 72 not out for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
Former India batting coach Sanjay Bangar has lavished high praise on Pandya, pointing out his versatility with the bat that makes him a vital component of India’s T20I setup.
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“Going deep inside the crease is Hardik Pandya’s speciality,” Sanjay Bangar said on Jiohotstar. “Even when he goes that deep, his weight remains on the front foot, which is a very good thing. As a batter, we always encourage waiting for the ball. He plays with a very wide base, which allows him to generate a lot of power. He can play front-foot shots, back-foot shots, baseball-style hits, full shots and the upper cut. He opens up both sides of the ground, which is a special ability.”
Pandya is an equally impactful fast bowler, often taking the new ball and providing breakthroughs in crucial moments. The 32-year-old has scored 1939 runs from 96 innings at a strike-rate of 141.53 and taken 100 wickets at an economy of 5.60.
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“He (Pandya) bowls at around 132–133 kmph with a fuller length, where close to 54% of his deliveries are pitched up, and he gets wickets from there. He allows the ball to swing, and when required, he goes for the yorker as well. The Indian team has benefited immensely from his ability,” Sanjay Bangar said.
