'That performance put Hardik Pandya on world map' - Former fielding coach R Sridhar throws light on Hardik's Champions Trophy 2017 final knock

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been in sublime touch this year. The star all-rounder led the new franchise Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as they clinched the trophy after defeating the finalists Rajasthan Royals. 

The right-handed batter also looked in excellent touch during the Asia Cup 2022 as he played an outstanding knock against the arch-rivals Pakistan in the group stage and won the game for his country. Without a doubt, Hardik is one of team India's most important players to participate in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2022. 

Hardik's career has also seen a lot of injuries. Pandya was already a regular feature in the Indian squad before he was stretched out of the field during the 2018 Asia Cup. Just one year before, Pandya had played a mind-boggling innings against Pakistan during the Champions Trophy 2017 final, but he could not win the game for his side. 

He felt he could have won us that day: Former fielding coach R Sridhar on Hardik Pandya  

The right-handed batter was playing on 76 off just 43 balls when a bit of miscommunication with his batting partner Ravindra Jadeja led to the former getting runout. Meanwhile, former India fielding coach R Sridhar said Pandya was livid with himself after the incident as he thought that he and Jadeja could have won the game for team India. 

“He felt he could have won us that day,” R Sridhar, the then fielding coach revealed on cricket.com.

“The way he was batting, he was in his zone, as they call it. And he thought he and Jadeja could have won us the game. Unfortunately, not to be. But again, that put Hardik on the world map, didn’t it,” Sridhar further said.

The star all-rounder will look to play a crucial role for his side in the upcoming T20 World Cup and help his team repeat the heroics of the ICC World T20 2007. Team India will play its first match in the T20 World Cup 2022 against arch-rivals Pakistan on October 23.