Hardik Pandya has a chance to script history, on the verge of breaking this record versus England

Hardik Pandya has a massive opportunity to script history in the upcoming five-match T20 International series versus England

Fierce-Rivals India (IND) and England (ENG) are set to take on each other in a five-match T20 International series which will begin from the 22nd of January. The opening match of this series will be played at Kolkata's iconic Eden Gardens Cricket Stadium. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has already announced Team India's squad for the series and majority of the key players have picked in the team. 

Ahead of Champions Trophy 2025, the Indian team selectors will be keeping an eye on the performance of certain players, one of whom is Fast Bowling All-Rounder Hardik Pandya, who performed exceptionally well in the shortest format of the game in 2024. The 31-year-old has a phenomenal record versus England in T20 Internationals with both bat & ball and he will get a big opportunity to create a massive record in the forthcoming five-match T20 International series.

Junior Pandya needs to take just three more wickets to break this record

At present, the record for the highest number of wickets taken by an Indian in T20 Internationals versus England is held by leg spinner Yuzvendra Chahal. He has dismissed 16 batters in 11 T20 matches versus the Three Lions at an average of 21.12. While Yuzi is not a part of the squad for the forthcoming series, Hardik is going to play and he has a chance to script history. 

In 15 T20i matches versus the Englishmen, the 31-year-old has 14 scalps next to his name with an average of 25.42. In such a situation, if Pandya manages to dismiss three more English batters in the upcoming five-match series, then he will become the highest wicket-taker for Team India in the shortest format of the game versus England.

Hardik Pandya's performance has been really good in T20 International matches

Hardik is currently regarded as one of the best fast-bowling All Rounders in T20 Cricket. He has taken part in 109 T20i encounters so far and has amassed 1,700 runs at a decent average of 27.87, in which he has also hit four fifties at a really good strike-rate of 141.90.

With the ball, the Mumbai Indians skipper has dismissed a total of 89 batters with an economy rate of 8.17 and an average of 26.62. His best-figures with the ball currently stand at 4/16. 

The BCCI recently unveiled the Men in Blue's squad for the T20 International serias versus England and while Pandya is a part of the squad, he's no longer the vice-captain of the team and that responsibility has been handed over to Axar Patel.

Do Read: New Zealand Squad for ICC Champions Trophy Announced; Williamson Returns as Santner Set to Lead!