Former Indian opener Wasim Jaffer has applauded all-rounder Hardik Pandya for doing well in India’s T20 World Cup win. However, Hardik made important contributions with both the bat and the ball throughout the tournament, including big wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the final against South Africa. And, Jaffer opined on the kind of pressure that Pandya was under after a poor IPL 2024 season.

Speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Wasim Jaffer said about Hardik Pandya:  “Would like to specially mention Hardik because he was under pressure coming into the T20 World Cup. But hats off to him for the way he stepped up with both bat and ball and delivered. We all know what kind of pressure he was under but he put his hand up and performed exceedingly well.”

However, Hardik picked up David Miller’s wicket in the final when Suryakumar Yadav grabbed a stunning running catch in the boundary line, maintaining his balance as well.

On this, Jaffer added: “Suryakumar Yadav’s catch was a game-changing moment according to me. If that catch wouldn’t have happened and if it would have gone for a six, 10 runs from four (five) balls would have been an easy job for Miller.”

Wasim Jaffer also said that it goes on to show why it is said that catches win matches and how crucial these small contributions are in the context of the match. He also lauded Jasprit Bumrah who bowled the 16th over when South Africa needed just 30 runs to win off 30 balls and conceded just four runs against Klaasen and Miller as well. He then came back to bowl the 18th over and gave away just two runs, dismissing Marco Jansen and getting his team in a strong position to win the game as well.

“Bumrah being Bumrah bowled incredibly well and rightly deserves to win the Player of the Tournament award. The way he bowled throughout the tournament and in the final, hats off to him,” Wasim Jaffer concluded.