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Kung Fu Pandya turns 32! Five times his bowling turned the game for India

Soumyajit Dutta

Hardik Pandya [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]Hardik Pandya [Source: @CricCrazyJohns/X.com]

Happy Birthday, Hardik Pandya!! The ace all-rounder of India has turned 32 years old today, on October 11 2025, and he is not getting any older on the cricket field. The ice-cool 'Kung fu' Pandya has already earned his name for his cold finishes and for destroying opponents with the bat. However, his bowling heroics are also not something to toss aside.

On his birthday, let's revisit some of his most popular bowling spells that made him a hero for his team across all formats of the game.

5) 3/20 vs South Africa (T20I, 2024)

During the 2024 T20 World Cup final at Bridgetown on June 29, Hardik Pandya stunned South Africa with a remarkable performance. After India batted first and set a target of 177, South Africa began their chase confidently. However, Hardik delivered crucial breakthroughs, dismissing Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, who were threatening to take the game away. 

Pandya finished with figures of 3 for 20 and emerged as one of the most impactful bowlers of the match, nearly turning the contest on its head as South Africa came agonizingly close before India clinched victory by just 7 runs.

4) 3/8 vs Pakistan (T20I, 2016)

During a T20 Asia Cup match in Dhaka back in 2016, Hardik Pandya once again made an impact with the ball, dismantling an already struggling Pakistan side. The Men in Green chose to bat first but crumbled from the very start, with Pandya emerging as the chief destroyer by taking 3 wickets for just 8 runs. 

While Ravindra Jadeja also picked up two wickets, only Jasprit Bumrah came close to Pandya’s economy, conceding just 8 runs. Pakistan never recovered from the collapse and was bundled out for 83 runs, which India chased down comfortably, with Virat Kohli being named Player of the Match.

3) 3/3 vs Sri Lanka (ODI, 2023)

3/3! This figure sounds almost impossible, yet Hardik Pandya managed to achieve them in the Asia Cup Final against Sri Lanka back in 2023. Batting first, Sri Lanka was struck by Bumrah and Siraj’s lightning pace, with the latter claiming six wickets in a record-breaking spell. 

However, Hardik Pandya also played his part in cleaning up the tail, taking three wickets while conceding just three runs in 2.2 overs. His unbelievable economy rate of 1.28 was the highlight as India chased down the 51-run target with 263 balls remaining.

2) 4/16 vs New Zealand (T20I, 2023)

It was the New Zealand tour of India, and in the third T20I, skipper Hardik Pandya bowled one of the best spells of his career across formats. After India set New Zealand a target of 235 runs at the end of 20 overs, the visitors began to stumble. 

Hardik Pandya, leading from the front, struck the first wicket of Finn Allen and followed it up by dismissing Glenn Phillips, Lockie Ferguson, and Blair Tickner to complete his 4/16 figures from four overs. His exceptional spell caused New Zealand to collapse like a house of cards as they were bundled out for just 66 runs.

1) 5/28 vs England (Test, 2018)

Hardik Pandya’s best bowling spell, however, came in a Test innings against England back in 2018. In the third Test against England at Nottingham, India posted 329 runs in their first innings. Coming in to cover the lead, England was wrapped up for just 161 runs, thanks to Hardik Pandya’s brilliant spell of 5 for 28. 

Pandya first dismissed skipper Joe Root and then claimed the crucial wickets of Jonny Bairstow, Chris Woakes, Adil Rashid, and Stuart Broad. This early breakthrough helped India gain an edge in the match, as they went on to win by 203 runs, with Hardik Pandya finishing with six wickets across both innings.