India’s dynamic all-rounder Hardik Pandya has turned 30 today. He will be taking the field for India against Afghanistan on his 30th birthday. The all-rounder would be looking to contribute to India’s success on his day. Pandya is a very integral part of this side and works as a fulcrum on most occasions as he provides the required balance to the team. His presence makes the combination perfect for Captain Rohit Sharma and the team management.
It has been a great journey for the all-rounder from Baroda, coming from a humble background to becoming the Vice-captain of India. Nothing short of a fairytale could describe his life’s story. A raw, lively talent for Mumbai Indians to a mature and senior member of the Indian team, Pandya has travelled the distance.
Pandya broke into the Indian side in 2016 when he got his opportunity to show his skills in the blue jersey on the tour to Australia. His performances in the IPL earned him the national call-up and he instantly impressed everyone. He made his place in the T20 World Cup squad the same year and his memorable last over against Bangladesh at the M. Chinnaswamy stadium is still fresh in the memories of Indian fans.
Pandya had a few impressive performances in the 2017 Champions Trophy in England as well. He continued to leave his mark in the limited-overs format but a dangerous back injury in the 2018 Asia Cup kept him out of the game for a long time. That injury also affected his test match career. He made his comeback and found a place in the 2019 World Cup squad and played a major role in taking India to the Semi-final.
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After a few hiccups in his career, he found his mojo when he was given the leadership of Gujarat Titans in the IPL. The captaincy brought out the best of him and improved his game as well. He carried the Titans to the IPL glory in their very first season and his remarkable captaincy stint continued in the succeeding season as well when Gujarat Titans reached the finals for the second time in a row. The leadership role has helped him to understand his game better and that has helped the Indian side as well.
In this World Cup Hardik Pandya will have a huge role to play. His hard-hitting batting prowess will be very crucial for India in the middle order. Captain Rohit Sharma will rely on him with the ball as well. This tournament will define the limited-overs career of Hardik Pandya and he will be desperate to grab this opportunity with both hands.