{"id":253616,"date":"2025-03-07T03:24:19","date_gmt":"2025-03-07T03:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/hardik-pandya-is-a-lion-hearted-cricketer-kiran-more-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/"},"modified":"2025-03-07T03:24:19","modified_gmt":"2025-03-07T03:24:19","slug":"hardik-pandya-is-a-lion-hearted-cricketer-kiran-more-cricket-news-the-times-of-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/news.talkwithrattan.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/07\/hardik-pandya-is-a-lion-hearted-cricketer-kiran-more-cricket-news-the-times-of-india\/","title":{"rendered":"Hardik Pandya is a lion-hearted cricketer: Kiran More | Cricket News – The Times of India"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Hardik<\/div>


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Hardik Pandya (BCCI Photo)<\/span><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

In a team where most of India\u2019s top guns are firing away, he has quietly delivered the goods. In a campaign where all talk has revolved around India\u2019s spinners, the superlative comebacks of Mohammed Shami from injury and Virat Kohli<\/a> from poor form, the sizzling batting of Shubman Gill, skipper Rohit Sharma, Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul, what a consistent Hardik Pandya<\/a> has brought to the team has found little or no word in edgewise.
Hardly surprising, but not anymore. In Tuesday\u2019s semifinal against Australia, walking in with India delicately placed at 225\/5, having just lost the Virat Kohli for 84, Pandya turned the 265-run chase into a walk in the park. <\/p>\n

He unleashed three big sixes, beginning with a 106-m monster hit off Tanveer Sangha followed by back-to-back sixes off Adam Zampa. He eventually holed out to pacer Nathan Ellis, but the 31-year-old\u2019s entertaining 24-ball 28 had done the job \u2013 swinging it decisively India\u2019s way. Earlier, opening the bowling with Shami, Pandya ran into a belligerent Travis Head, but did well to hold his own. All he allowed Head was one run in his first over, before the attacking left-hander took his chances. <\/p>\n

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Virat Kohli steers India to third consecutive Champions Trophy final<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cI thought his contributions against Pakistan and New Zealand were crucial too. He struck some lusty blows and made a few important breakthroughs,\u201d ex-chairman of selector Kiran More<\/a> told TOI from Baroda \u2014 the cricketing centre where the former India wicketkeeper trained the Pandya brothers, Hardik and Krunal at his academy.
Against Pakistan, Pandya accounted for Babar Azam and a well-set Saud Shakeel while conceding just 31 off eight, and New Zealand saw him score a quickfire 45 off 45 balls, and then watched as he claimed the dangerous Rachin Ravindra while giving away 22 in four overs. Indeed, it is the sight of Pandya walking in at No. 7 that makes India such a formidable force here.
For those from a generation back, it\u2019s just the kind of strength that Australia would boast of in Tests in the early 2000s, when the legendary \u2019keeper-bat Adam Gilchrist would come in at that slot and destroy tiring bowling attacks.
Against New Zealand in the final on Sunday night in Dubai, expect Pandya to again hold the key, both with ball and bat. It forces the mind back to the 2023 ODI World Cup, when he was ruled out after an ankle injury midway through the tournament. Would Pandya\u2019s presence then have helped India get past eventual champions Australia in that final at Ahmedabad? Of course, the answer remains in the realm of imagination \u2014 that eternal \u2018what if\u2019 \u2014 but he certainly would have made a big difference. <\/p>\n

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Gautam Gambhir hits out at critics after India beat Australia to reach Champions Trophy final<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

It is the presence of a player of his versatility, someone who can open the bowling as a reliable seamer and bat effectively at No. 7, that is allowing India the luxury of playing four spinners in Dubai.
Bouncing back after a poor IPL last season, where he was skipper in Mumbai Indians\u2019 poorest outing \u2013 finishing last after losing 10 matches and winning a mere four \u2013 and living through the ignominy of being booed by the Wankhede Stadium crowd, he played a stellar role in India\u2019s T20 World Cup triumph in the West Indies and the US in June 2024. He took 11 wickets at 17.36, and chipping in with 144 runs with a strike rate of 151.57.
Apparently being formed for white-ball captaincy, having led India\u2019s T20 team since Jan 2023, Pandya was suddenly replaced by Suryakumar Yadav<\/a> as T20 captain, and Shubman Gill overtook him as the ODI vice-captain. A demotion of this nature could have shaken up anyone, but Pandya simply sported his trademark shrug and shook off the setback. Today, he looks as happy as ever in the India dugout, amply evident with the way he hugged Virat Kohli and his other India teammates after India made the final.
\u201cHe\u2019s a lion-hearted cricketer. For the last six-seven months, it\u2019s evident that he\u2019s just enjoying his cricket. He is not someone who will hold grudges against anyone. Maaf karta hai aur chal deta hai (he forgives, forgets and moves on),\u201d More said.<\/div>\n