Hardik Pandya’s emergence is a success story many can take inspiration from. From surviving on instant noodles after practice sessions when money was tight, the 23 year-old is now one of the most sought after all-rounders in Indian cricket.
Pandya has a penchant for flash and desires the limelight but, as a lot of cricketers in the past have learned, the biggest stage is much more than just glitz and glamour.
Until the night of the World T20 2016 semi-final against the West Indies, he was a phenomenal prospect who had promised the world to Indian cricket when he made the stunning declaration: “I am the answer to India’s number seven woes”.
On that night, Pandya would suddenly plummet from the lofty heights he dared scale in such a hurry. Given the 15th over to bowl with the Caribbean side needing another 73 runs to win, Pandya was hammered for 22 runs which included a wicket of Lendl Simmons that was ruled out as it was off a no-ball.
India never recovered after that over. Pandya didn’t play a game in Indian colours after that for a good six months.
Pandya’s T20I debut, back in January, wasn’t all that remarkable either. He started his first over with four consecutive wides, but ended it with a wicket off another extremely wide delivery outside off-stump which Chris Lynn bludgeoned only to be intercepted by Yuvraj Singh at cover.
In the first ball of Pandya’s next over he took another wicket, this time that of Matthew Wade. Suddenly the nervy youngster was on a hat-trick on debut.
This spell in a way was a microcosm of how Pandya would fare in the games to come. One moment, he was virtually unplayable and the next, simply overrated.
Inconsistency plagued Pandya as he’d perform brilliantly and incite hope, only to extinguish it by following it up with disappointing performances. And hence, the people who extolled him as the greatest Indian all-rounder after the great Kapil Dev suddenly went into hiding. And so did Pandya.
A below-par World T20, followed by an even worse IPL where his brother Krunal Pandya – another exciting prospect – stole the limelight meant that Pandya was dropped from the international side.
The one who loved all the attention was suddenly labelled an ‘India discard’. What followed would go on to not only show the steel that Pandya is made of, but also his determination to play for India.
The flashy Instagram pictures were replaced by short videos of Pandya sweating it out in the gym. A spree of injuries and some surprising last minute changes meant that an out-of-form Pandya would get picked for India A’s tour of Australia.
He bowled decently in Australia and steadied an innings where India A were down 46 for 6 by scoring a gritty 79 out of a total of 169.
Pandya’s performances Down Under earned him a call-up to the Indian team, this time in the ODI side for the series against New Zealand.
In the first ODI at Dharamsala, MS Dhoni preferred Pandya ahead of Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball. Suddenly, the gym videos seemed relevant. Pandya was regularly clocking over 140 kmph and hitting the right areas.
The reward for all that hard work wasn’t far away. The last ball of his first over fetched Pandya a wicket, the valuable scalp of Martin Guptill. He went on to take three wickets for 31 runs off his seven overs on his ODI debut.
Pandya’s batting was still under the scanner though, but in the next game in New Delhi, he stepped up with India needing 60 to win off 55 balls with just two wickets in hand against the threatening duo of Trent Boult and Tim Southee.
The pitch was two-paced and not the easiest to score on. Pandya, in a valiant innings of 36 off 32 balls (ably supported by Umesh Yadav) almost saw India home. When he eventually got out playing an unusual shot with India needing another 11 runs off seven balls, he was distraught.
He walked back to the pavilion holding his head. He had made a mistake, but learned from it too.
Hardik Pandya has grown a little bit more today. Genuine all round prospect. Is in a good learning atmosphere.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 20, 2016
Dhoni pointed out in the post-match press conference that in time Pandya will know when to finish a game and how deep he should take it.
The Baroda lad is a phenomenal fielder as well. His diving catch of Sharjeel Khan in the World T20 game against Pakistan is evidence of that.
Pandya has grown immensely as a bowler too, who not only clocks over 140 kmph now, but also bowls in better areas.
With Dhoni getting older and in his own words “losing his ability to rotate the strike well and finish games for India”, Pandya is a viable option as an innings finisher. He not only lends the team immense balance but also allows Dhoni to play up the order.
A seam-bowling all-rounder has been an elusive trait from Indian limited overs sides. A lot of players in the past have come in and showed promised but have ultimately failed in that role.
Pandya seems to be the most genuine of the lot. He has promised a lot, but he must now deliver the goods.
At the moment, by the looks of it, Hardik Pandya is here to stay.
