Hardik Pandya is a very high class all-rounder to be fair: Ricky Ponting

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya has already proved his all-round abilities in the national colours and to addition to that, he has had a scintillating beginning to IPL 10. It was the heroics from his blade which helped them chase down a pretty challenging total from a hopeless situation. He is supremely talented and can also open the bowling. He is a skiddy customer and can generate steep bounce from the pitch.

The hard-hitting all-rounder burst onto the scene 2 years ago with a match winnings innings against the Chennai Super Kings and from there on it has been a dream come true for the youngster. He has become an important member of the Indian limited overs side within a short span of time and is undoubtedly the best fast bowling all-rounder available in the nation.

It was during the stint of Ricky Ponting as the coach of Mumbai Indians when Pandya burst onto the scene. The former Aussie World Cup winning captain gave his insights on the Indian all-rounder during his Video Interview with cricket.com.au. He started off with calling him an ultra-talented all-rounder who burst onto the scene during his tenure and played some remarkable innings to make his presence felt.

Calling him a showman, Ponting said Pandya is always there to put up a show and it was evident from his body language after winning the game for Mumbai in the previous encounter against Kolkata Knight Riders. “He is a very high-class all-rounder to be fair. He can bat up the order in both red ball and white ball cricket and can open the bowling in both forms of the fame,” Ponting told cricket.com.au during his interview.

“He comes from a poor background as well, I am sure he wouldn’t mind be saying that but he grew up in a little township and didn’t really have much and all of a sudden you are in IPL team, you get some glamour and goes about making bit of money and he really made full use of his opportunities. Ponting further added it was tough times for Pandya in the last year when the former Aussie wanted him to bat up the order.

“He is a top order batsman in first-class cricket over there so I wanted him to push up the order, bat him at 3 for a few games but it didn’t quite work out so we had to push him back down the order which didn’t work either and all the expectations as it happens in India with the young blokes bursting on to the scene really got to him. You could see him finding it very difficult to leave up to the expectations of whole nation which was almost bestowed upon him,” Ponting further added.

The former Mumbai Indians coach further hailed him for his heroics in the 2 games in the tournament so far and added his role will vital if Mumbai harbours hope of lifting their 3rd IPL trophy. The younger of the Pandya brothers, Hardik will look to come all guns blazing in today;s encounter against the Riyal Challengers Bangalore starting from 4 pm at the Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.