Hardik Pandya – Is he the answer for India’s next seaming All-Rounder?

Hardik Pandya – Is he the answer for India’s next seaming All-Rounder?: Right from its inception in 2008, Indian Premier League has produced some sensational young talents and provided them with the platform to express their abilities. IPL has been gifting amazing cricketers with potential to become future stars for the nation. IPL season 2015 was no exception. One such rising talent was brought into the arena by the champions Mumbai Indians. The right handed batsman and medium-fast bowler Hardik Pandya was one of the finds of IPL 2015 who surprised one and all, taking away the matches from the opposition single-handedly.

Hardly anyone knew who Hardik Pandya was before he won the match for Mumbai Indians against CSK while chasing. He came in and finished the innings scoring 21 runs off just 8 balls which comprised of 3 big maximums. This cameo earned him the man of the match award as well. Later on the young lad from Baroda came into limelight when he shadowed the giant Kieron Pollard with his explosive batting skills against KKR in an important must win match for MI. Hardik came in due to the fall of skipper Rohit Sharma when Mumbai’s score was just 79/4. The batsman blasted the KKR bowlers and scored an unbeaten 61 from just 31 deliveries. On the opposite end of the wicket while Pollard was finding it difficult to time the ball well, the 21 year-old was scoring fluently and was hitting the ball all around the park. Mumbai won the match and Hardik once again bagged the man of the match award.

IPL was not the first instance where he came in under pressure situations and helped the team come out of trouble. Right from his early days playing the game, he has showed signs of controlled aggression and excellent temperament in batting. Playing for Baroda Under-16 team against Mumbai, Pandya walked in when his team was reeling at 60/4. Hardik went on to score a double century in the match and took his team to a safe position.

Hardik credits his success to his mentor-coach Jitendra Singh, Kiran More and the Pathan brothers. KKR all-rounder Yusuf Pathan was the first one to congratulate Hardik on his heroics against KKR when Yusuf was at the receiving end. Being a seaming all-rounder himself, Hardik’s role model is his Baroda team mate and Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan. Irfan too has also been known to support the youngster and has been motivating him during the times Hardik has had poor performances.

His exuberance and aggression on the cricket field was noticed by John Wright, the Mumbai Indians head coach-turned talent scout. Hardik’s unbeaten 82 off 57 balls in the Syed Mustaq Ali trophy in 2014 at Mumbai earned him a ticket into the MI squad.

He was bought by the Mumbai coach Ricky Ponting at the base price of 10 Lakh Rupees and his sensational display of batting in the IPL has proved him worthy. Surrounded by some legendary names in the dressing room and hugely talented international stars in the Mumbai Indians squad, Hardik has learnt a lot from them. It was a huge morale booster for the youngster to be picked into the playing XI amidst star players and being the part of the IPL winning side.

Though these are early days to see him as a future seaming all-rounder for India, Hardik definitely has all the traits and passion to achieve that feat. We have all witnessed his capabilities with the bat and to earn the title of a complete all-rounder he has to shine with the ball as well. If Hardik can master his bowling skills, it will be a cherry on the cake. Only time will tell whether the whippersnapper will be another Kapil Dev for India or just a flash in the pan.