Hardik Pandya is entering into a huge phase of his career after the T20 World Cup heroics. The 30-year-old has endured a tough time on and off the field with the latest setback being his separation with wife Natasa Stankovic. The biggest challenge is how Hardik Pandya will come out of the captaincy snub dealt to him.
The series against Sri Lanka will mark the start of the next cycle of India’s preparation for the T20 World Cup in 2026. The tournament is set to be held in India and Sri Lanka and playing in such conditions will help India get acclimated to the surfaces.
India hasn’t had an all-rounder like Hardik Pandya and the 30-year-old is an excellent asset in all three facets of the game. As India gets ready for the Sri Lanka series the chance for Hardik Pandya to become a star player and a huge asset has increased.
Here are the top 3 reasons why Hardik Pandya can win the Player of the Series:
3- Resurgence as a bowler
Hardik Pandya played a stellar role in the finals of the T20 World Cup with the ball. The 30-year-old held his cool and gave away just 8 runs in the final over to win the title for India. Even in the game against Pakistan, Hardik Pandya was key with the ball as he picked the wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan to change the course of the game. This resurgence by Hardik Pandya as a bowler will hold India in good stead,
2- Role as a senior member of the side
With the retirements of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja the onus of being a senior member of the side falls on Hardik Pandya. Most of the Indian side members are under the age of 27 and this gives Hardik Pandya a chance to become one of the biggest players and mentors of the side. Hardik Pandya has often excelled in this role as seen during his reign as captain for Gujarat Titans.
1- Take the role of a finisher in the batting order
One of the biggest plus points for Hardik Pandya has been his big-hitting skills. The 30-year-old has for long been termed the next finisher in the T20I format. Hardik Pandya will also want to bat well and prove that with age and experience, he has become more mature and isn’t the brash batter that he was when he made his debut. Hardik Pandya can become the player of the series award versus Sri Lanka just on the back of his sizzling talents with the blade.
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