Hardik Pandya achieves unique feat during India's win over England

Hardik Pandya showed why he is regarded as one of the top all-rounders in international cricket. With his amazing performance in the recently concluded three-match ODI series, where he scored 100 runs from two innings and took six wickets, there is no doubt that he is India’s best pace bowling all-rounder in a long time.   

He became the first player in history to score a half-century and take a four-wicket haul in all three formats against England. He scored 18 & 52* in the 2018 Nottingham Test, where he also got 5/28 & 1/22 with the ball.

Pandya took four wickets and scored 51 in the T20I held at Southampton before following it up with a 71-run knock and figures of 4/24 in the ODI at Manchester.  

His all-round performance was crucial to India’s win in the white ball leg of the tour, and he was rightly adjudged as the Player of the Series. He took four wickets, conceding just 24 runs from seven overs on Sunday.

Pandya had a clear plan in the third ODI and executed his short ball ploy to perfection. With the willow, he scored briskly, striking it at 129.

He also joined an elite group of players who have scored a fifty and taken four wickets for India in ODIs. The list includes greats like Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh and K Srikkanth.

It’s evident that with his ability, Pandya could become one of the best all-rounders India have ever produced. But it all comes down to staying fit and keeping his composure. 

Being injury prone, Hardik has missed considerable match time in the past few years. 

Since he was named captain of the Gujarat Titans franchise in the IPL, he has shown a better temperament and has improved as a player.     

ALSO READ: Hardik was shocked by Mumbai’s decision: Ravi Shastri

He is set to feature for India in the upcoming five-match T20I series against West Indies after being rested for the ODIs.