Live Score
Cricket Teams
Cricket Players
‘Best suited option for Team India at No.4’: Irfan Pathan's bold comment on Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya
Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan said Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya is the ‘best suited’ option for Team India at No.4.
Hardik Pandya's all-round show has been one of the most striking features of Gujarat Titans' impressive debut season in IPL 2022 so far. The experienced right-hander has taken up the responsibility of batting at the crucial number four spot but what will give to the Indian cricket fans is his performance with the ball. Speaking on Pandya's good returns in the 15th edition of the tournament, former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra said the GT skipper has learnt the right lessons from MS Dhoni and he is now applying them perfectly in the ongoing season. (Follow IPL 2022 Coverage)
"I think Hardik obviously treats him (MS Dhoni) as his mentor, he's very close to MS. The number at which he bats and the role that he plays, nobody has played it better than Dhoni in the history of white-ball cricket. He's learnt the right lessons from MS. These are the things that we don't even have to be told, we just observe. When we are in the company of greatness, we try and take little pieces and it shapes our lives. And that's what we are seeing with Hardik," Aakash Chopra said on Star Sports' show Cricket Live.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar also lauded Hardik Pandya for working on his fitness and putting his thinking cap on in the most exciting season of IPL.
"He didn't play a lot of cricket before the IPL because he was trying to get fully fit with all the problems he had due to the injury. (Now) Look at the discipline he's showing in his batting. He's batting well in the powerplay and making full use of the field restrictions, he's doing exceedingly well in the field. So basically, that thinking cap is on; and once that happens your game just goes up."
Former Indian pacer Irfan Pathan has claimed that the responsibility of captaincy is bringing out the best from Hardik and the world is witnessing a new version of him.
Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Pathan said, "This is a new Hardik Pandya. This is a better version of him. It was nice to see the situations in which he has played this season. The good thing about Hardik is that he is batting responsibly at No. 4. You don't get to take too many chances after wickets fall early but Hardik played didn't shy away from playing big strokes early in his innings for GT if he got the looseness from the bowlers. Whether it is Team India or Gujarat Titans, Hardik is the most suited batsman at number four. This is because he can take the responsibility."
