New Zealand vs India: Sunil Gavaskar impressed with terrific Hardik Pandya on his comeback

Hardik Pandya hogged the limelight for all the wrong reasons over the last few weeks. But the cricketer was in the news for his terrific show against New Zealand in the third ODI on Monday. Soon after joining the team, he was drafted in the playing XI and Hardik proved his worth playing his first international match in four months. He straightaway impressed with his performance on the field and Sunil Gavaskar was all praise of the all-rounder.

Hardik was fabulous on the field grabbing a sensational catch to send back the opposition skipper Kane Williamson who came down the ground to flick the ball in the air. It went to the left of Pandya who was at the mid-wicket and he dived full stretch to pull off a screamer. Moreover, the fast bowler also completed his quota to return with the superb figures of 2/45. He picked crucial wickets of Henry Nicholls and Mitchell Santner.

He was absolutely terrific

Sunil Gavaskar, during the mid-innings show on Star Sports, lauded Hardik Pandya’s efforts and termed his performance as ‘absolutely terrific’. He also highlighted that the cricketer must have been in jet leag having flown in only a day before the game from India.

“Terrific performance, absolutely terrific performance. It’s never easy. The jet lag can get to you. He is a young man, he has had things that have happened and he just wants to forget it. The best way to forget it is being out on the field. And this is what he does best. Being on the field and playing for the country… that’s what you want,” Gavaskar said.

The cricketer-turned-commentator also felt that Hardik was a live wire on the field while also praising his bowling. “He’s bowled a very good line, he has used the bouncers to very good effect. He has been like a live wire on the field,” he added.

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