Published: Dec 17, 2017, 05:15 PM (IST)
Edited: Dec 17, 2017, 05:15 PM (IST)
Though India have produced many world-class cricketers, pace-bowling all-rounders are the type India have rarely had in their squad. Hardik Pandya has been pitted as the most able pacer-all-rounder since Kapil Dev and now the young cricketer has equalled a feat of the cricket legend. Pandya has scored over 500 runs and taken 30 wickets in 2017 in ODIs, thus becoming the first since Kapil to do the same in a year. Pandya dismissed Sachith Pathirana during India’s third ODI against Sri Lanka to achieve the feat. Pandya had scored 557 runs before the start of the match, 30 more than Kapil’s 1986 tally of runs — when he touched the double.
Catching the attention of selectors through his performance in IPL, Pandya made his India debut in 2016 and has since represented India in 3 Tests, 32 ODIs and 24 T20Is. He has impressed one and all with his performance across formats. Pandya came into limelight in the 2016 World T20, helping India reach the semi-final with his all-round performance. Pandya bagged 2 wickets in the 3rd ODI as India bundled Sri Lanka for 215 runs.
