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From Bat To Ball: Hardik Pandya’s 5 Unforgettable Career Performances

Hardik Pandya 's best performances in his career [Source: @khansalman88177/x.com]Hardik Pandya 's best performances in his career [Source: @khansalman88177/x.com]

Turning 31 today, Hardik Pandya has become one of cricket’s most influential all-rounders, thrilling fans with his powerful hitting, game-changing bowling, and a temperament built for the big moments. From an aspiring young lad in Surat to a fixture in the national team, Pandya’s career is packed with jaw-dropping performances across formats.

Here’s a look at the Hardik Pandya's 5 best moments that define his journey from the fringes to the fore of Indian cricket.

5. 83 and 2/28 vs Australia (1st ODI, Chennai, 2017)

Hardik Pandya 83 and 2/28 vs Australia [Source: @ICC/x.com]Hardik Pandya 83 and 2/28 vs Australia [Source: @ICC/x.com]

When India found itself neck-deep in trouble at 87/5, Pandya walked in and turned the tables with a blazing knock of 83 off just 66 balls. Partnering with MS Dhoni, he lifted India from the jaws of defeat to a solid total of 281.

With five fours and five monstrous sixes, Pandya’s bat did the talking on a pitch with an unusual bounce, propelling India to a fighting score. As rain played spoilsport, Australia needed 164 from 21 overs, and Pandya shone again with the ball, claiming two crucial scalps for 28 runs.

Dismissing Steve Smith and Travis Head, Pandya used his knuckleball variations to keep the Aussies at bay and handed India a 26-run victory in a rain-adjusted thriller. It was a performance that highlighted his knack for stepping up when India was on the ropes.

4. 108 vs Sri Lanka (3rd Test, Pallekele, 2017)

Hardik Pandya Maiden Test Century vs Sri Lanka [Source: @ICC/x.com]Hardik Pandya Maiden Test Century vs Sri Lanka [Source: @ICC/x.com]

In a game where India was looking to seal the series sweep, Hardik Pandya stole the show with a dazzling maiden century off 96 balls. Batting at No. 8, he broke records by reaching the fastest Test century by an Indian at that position and the fifth-fastest overall.

The innings was a masterclass in counter-attack, featuring 8 fours and 7 sixes, as Pandya dismantled the Sri Lankan bowling attack and catapulted India to a commanding total of 487.

With a bat in hand, Pandya turned the Test into a T20 spectacle, leaving Sri Lanka chasing shadows as he powered India to a colossal lead and an eventual innings and 171-run win.

3. 2/29 vs Bangladesh (T20 World Cup, 2016)

Hardik Pandya 2/29 vs Bangladesh [Source: @BCCI/x.com]Hardik Pandya 2/29 vs Bangladesh [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

In a tense Super 10 clash in Bengaluru, the stakes couldn’t have been higher. Bangladesh needed just 2 runs from 3 balls in the final over to defeat India, and Pandya was tasked with the unthinkable – defending the slimmest of margins.

Keeping his cool, he dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah off back-to-back deliveries, flipping the game on its head.

With Bangladesh’s final pair running for victory, MS Dhoni’s lightning-quick run-out secured a thrilling 1-run win, and Pandya’s death-over heroics cemented his status as India’s clutch performer.

2. 51 and 4/33 vs England (1st T20I, Rose Bowl, 2022)

Hardik Pandya 51 and 4/33 vs England [Source: @HardiK33x/x.com]Hardik Pandya 51 and 4/33 vs England [Source: @HardiK33x/x.com]

Hardik’s brilliance shone in both innings at the Rose Bowl against England, first as he hammered a quickfire 51 off 33 balls. With six boundaries and a six, his aggressive batting lifted India to a solid 198-run total.

But Pandya wasn’t content with just his batting exploits; he returned with the ball and claimed four wickets for 33 runs, single-handedly sealing India’s 50-run victory. Taking centre stage, Pandya picked up the Player of the Match award for this stellar all-round show. 

1. 3/20 vs South Africa (T20 World Cup Final, 2024)

Hardik Pandya 3/20 vs South Africa [Source: @BCCI/x.com]Hardik Pandya 3/20 vs South Africa [Source: @BCCI/x.com]

The cherry on top of Hardik Pandya’s career came in this year’s T20 World Cup Final. South Africa was gunning for glory, but Pandya was determined to script a different ending.

Defending a tight total of 176, he struck the first major blow by dismissing an explosive Heinrich Klaasen when South Africa needed just 26 off 24 balls, shifting the momentum in India’s favour. With 16 runs to defend in the last over, Pandya bowled like a man possessed, snaring David Miller’s wicket and clinching India’s second T20 World Cup title.

His remarkable 3/20 in a pressure-cooker atmosphere not only redeemed him after a lacklustre IPL season but also marked his transformation into a match-winner.