Sanjay Manjrekar hails Hardik Pandya for his tremendous comeback after injury: Former Indian cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has hailed Indian senior all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his brilliant performance over the last few months. Pandya, who made a comeback to cricket, months after a forced injury break, is now a completely changed guy, said Manjrekar.
Following Rishabh Pant’s classy ton, all-rounder Hardik Pandya slammed his half-century in the ODI decider at Manchester against England on Sunday to propel team India towards an easy victory.
Team India clinched the ODI series by 2-1 and Hardik Pandya played a crucial role in it. Pandya amassed 71 runs off 55 deliveries in the final ODI against England and scalped four wickets. His match-winning performances earned him the Player of the Series award.
“Absolutely, Hardik Pandya is a completely changed guy. It was a wildcard that the franchise played. First of all, picking him as one of their first players, before that his fitness was a problem, his batting was an issue for the earlier franchise,” Manjrekar said in a show on Sports 18 after ENGvIND 3rd ODI.
Manjrekar also talked about how Gujarat Titans backed Hardik as one of their gun players in the recently completed IPL 2022. Hardik Pandya was appointed Gujarat’s skipper in the debut season and the all-rounder completely ruled the position and led his side to a title win in his maiden stint.
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“Not only did they pick him, and back him as one of their marquee players they gave him the captaincy. Just the way the league turned out for him. Hardik Pandya is a changed man now, there’s a lot of maturity, responsibility and ambition as well. I see a sense of ambition coming into him. And once you have that, wanting to grow within Indian Cricket then there’s tremendous motivation. He’s also addressing himself in third person now. Hardik Pandya has arrived.”
“So, firstly with my bowling, you know post IPL. After every series I take maybe four or five days to train because that is refuelling for my fitness and just to get fresh. I like to play 100 per cent because then it gives me the opportunity to do all the things which I did today,” said Hardik.
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