According to former Indian cricketer Zaheer Khan, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya should bat in the number four position because it would be the most advantageous place for him to play. Pandya, according to the seasoned left-arm pacer, is aware of what is required of the team and adjusts his performance accordingly.
Pandya’s side, the Gujarat Titans (GT), went on to win the 2022 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) in their very first participation. This victory was made possible by Pandya’s exceptional form throughout the tournament. The outstanding all-rounder was instrumental in his team’s victory by contributing many match-winning innings. The right-handed batsman is showing no signs of slowing down in the T20 International series currently being played against South Africa.
Hardik Pandya is not looking rushed: Zaheer Khan
In an interview with Cricbuzz, Zaheer said, “He would ideally want to be playing at number four. He has a good understanding of what is expected of him by the squad and how he should shape his play. If you lose wickets quickly, especially at number five, he thrives in that kind of pressure-packed environment. Since the start of this IPL, it has been abundantly clear that he takes pleasure in facing difficult competition. It does not seem like he is in a hurry. Therefore, this is the charm of his current batting performance. This is the portion that I’m looking forward to the most. If you’re a batter, the moment you get the realization that “I am in charge and I can change the gears whenever I desire,” that’s the moment when you’ll obtain that confidence.
You need an attitude like that when you lose early wickets as a team. Someone who is not only confident in their abilities but also able to take the pressure, which requires them to slow down. Therefore, it would be ideal for the team if he could keep this form and bowl since it would be the most balanced thing they could do. Rahul Dravid and the management of the Indian squad will be quite pleased with the result.“
The renowned all-rounder Pandya will take part in the action during the fifth and final Twenty20 International match that will be played between India and South Africa. On June 19th, the match is scheduled to take place at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru (Sunday).
