Sanjay Manjrekar compares Hardik Pandya with Amitabh Bachchan

Versatility is a cornerstone for a career to flourish, be it cricket, acting or any other endeavours. From that aspect, cricket and acting go hand in hand to a large extent. While for a cricketer, it’s necessary to succeed in all playing conditions, an actor should be accustomed to enacting roles of various genres. Sanjay Manjrekar, the former Indian cricketer, most definitely finds a connection between the two fields.

Hardik Pandya played exceptionally well on day two of the opening Test match against South Africa at the Newlands in Cape Town. He staved off the Proteas attack and scored a brilliant 93 runs in the first innings. The knock and his follow up bowling spell impressed Manjrekar and he compared the Baroda all-rounder’s knock with the roles played by the legendary and evergreen Amitabh Bachchan.

The current commentator took to Twitter, the social media platform and hailed Pandya’s all-round performance while drawing its comparison with Bachchan’s double-role in movies. Here’s the post from Twitter.

Like Amitabh Bachchan used to play those double roles, Hardik Pandya also showed two characters in his superb innings. The modern T20 player along with the orthodox classical Test batsman.#INDvSA #HardikPandya #SonyTen1

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) January 7, 2018

Here’s how Twitter reacted:

Pls don’t compare @SrBachchan: a legend, a superstar to a newbie. Pandya need to fulfil many roles to even come close to the great Big B.

— Harris Shahzad (@drharrisshahzad) January 7, 2018

And like Sunny Leone used to play those double roles, You also showed two characters with your extra make up ? You were IMPERFECT ? pic.twitter.com/HcNGlZneRV

— Mayanti Langer (@Langer_Mayanti) January 7, 2018

Proved that you are Mr Imperfect

— Thirumal Rao.V (@ThirumalWnp) January 7, 2018

Hardik Pandya is a hit or miss player … Consistency lacking untested … Why blow things out of proportion before time?

— Sagar Sawant (@sagsaw) January 7, 2018

An impressing outing for Pandya  

Not a lot of people were sure how useful Hardik would be as the fourth seamer and in the team and lower down the order as a batter in South Africa, however, he justified his selection with the swashbuckling knock. Meanwhile, he also showed maturity and dragged India out of the pits. Pandya came to bat when India were reeling at a score of 76/5 and were staring down the barrel.

However, Pandya stitched together a partnership of 99 runs with Bhuvneshwar Kumar and gave some sort of respectability to India’s score. He also bowled well and picked up three wickets thus far in the Test match. Overcast conditions on the third day were ideal for Pandya’s style of bowling. However, persistent rain abandoned play.

Pandya has picked up the wickets of Dean Elgar and Aiden Markram on the final session of Day 3. India will now be hoping for the all-rounder to carry forward his form on the fourth day.