Hardik Pandya’s desperation in comeback game impresses fielding coach R Sridhar

Ace Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya made an impressive comeback to international cricket on Monday when the Men in Blue defeated New Zealand by 7 wickets to win the third ODI and with it, the series. Pandya bowled his full quota of 10 overs and picked two late wickets to end with the figures of 2 for 45 besides taking a brilliant flying catch to dismiss Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson. There was no sign whatsoever of the player carrying any physical or mental baggage.

Pandya was suspended ahead of the three-match ODI series in Australia along with KL Rahul for making controversial remarks on TV show ‘Koffee With Karan’ but had things unfolding in his favour last week when the Committee of Administrators decided to lift the suspension saying the duo already has had enough punishment. Pandya eventually returned to play an international game for India since September when he was ruled out because of an injury midway into a game against Pakistan.

India’s fielding coach R Sridhar praised Pandya saying no one was more desperate than the 25-year-old Baroda all-rounder to play the third ODI and lauded the “desperation” the latter brought to the ground. Pandya is considered to be a key member of the Indian side that will compete in the upcoming World Cup this summer and a prolonged absence from competitive cricket could have marred his preparation.

“No one was more keen than Hardik Pandya to play that game. He’s been working very hard during the time he got back home and the kind of energy he brought into the team, the desperation he brought was magnificent to see. He’s always been a good fielder. He was just dying to get into the thick of things and be a part of this and get back to what he loves doing, that is to play cricket and play it best he can,” Sridhar was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

‘Piece of magic from Pandya’

Sridhar was particularly proud of the catch that Pandya caught in the game defying the law of gravity. Calling it a “piece of magic from Hardik Pandya”, Sridhar said: “That catch – he made a very difficult catch look easy. By no means an easy catch and then also the fact that it was Kane Williamson’s catch; the extra pressure of one of the best batsmen in the world. I think that was a turning point.”

The coach also called Pandya as one the best fielders in the country and reminded that the cricketer also hit the stumps quite a few times in his comeback match. Pandya was keen to put things in order was also visible when he showed his frustration over a wayward throw from Shikhar Dhawan off his bowling that gifted a run to the Kiwis.

The fourth match of the series will be played in Hamilton on Thursday.

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