I became an all-rounder by chance: Hardik Pandya

Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has said that being an all-rounder was “pure luck” for him. The 27-year-old stated that he started his career as a top-order batter before slowly focussing on his bowling prowess since the age of 19. Hardik mentioned that there was a time when he didn’t even have proper fast bowling shoes and had to borrow someone else’s.

As far as his bowling is concerned, Pandya picked up a five-wicket haul during India’s Test against England at the Trent Bridge in Nottingham back in 2018. Pandya has already picked up 116 wickets for Team India from 11 Tests, 63 ODIs and 49 T20Is. In his career, the youngster has gotten 231 wickets, combining first-class, List A and T20 cricket.

Of late due to his long-standing back problem, Pandya has refrained from bowling. However, Chetan Sharma, the head of India’s selection panel, said that Hardik will bowl his quota of overs during the T20 World Cup in the UAE.

I didn’t have fast-bowling shoes: Hardik Pandya

“I became an all-rounder by chance. It was pure luck. The transition took place when I was 19. Before I played for India, I had bowled for probably one year only,” Hardik told Hindustan Times.

“When I started bowling, I was helping out my U19 bowlers because they were tired by bowling so much. I was a batsman who used to bat at No.3. I used to borrow their shoes also because I didn’t have fast-bowling shoes,” he stated.

Hardik narrated how his transition from a batter to a proper all-rounder took place. “Sharath Kumar sir was watching our U19 practice from some 200 meters away. The next day he came to watch our local game, where I played for Kiran More Academy.

“It was a green top and no fast bowler was available. I borrowed someone’s shoes and got a five-for in that game. That’s why I say it’s luck by chance. Sharath sir then took me a month in the Ranji Trophy squad. Before that, I didn’t bowl,” Hardik added.

Hardik has also chipped in with the ball in hand for the five-time champions Mumbai Indians in the cash-rich Indian Premier League. He’s now set to take part in the second leg of the 2021 IPL in the United Arab Emirates.