‘Abhi woh team main ek main force hai’ – Wasim Akram makes big prediction on Hardik Pandya’s future in Indian cricket
Although Virat Kohli’s heroics in the India-Pakistan clash on October 23, Sunday, in the 20-20 World Cup became the talk of the town, Hardik Pandya’s subtle contribution at the other end to put on a 100-run partnership with the Indian veteran cannot be ruled out.
Wasim Akram, the former Pakistani legend, who took cognizance of Pandya’s ability to remain calm under crunch situations, made a bold claim about the Indian allrounder. Backing Pandya to become the next Indian captain, Akram said that the right-handed batter is a main force in the Indian team at present.
“Pehle woh Indian T20 League main captain bana, waha jeeta. Abhi woh team main ek main force hai, woh captain ko advice deta hai, ek calm influence hai, and he is learning. Ekdum se agar deep end main daal do toh usko samjh hi nehi ayegi (First he became the captain in the Indian T20 League, won there. Right now he is the main force in the team, he gives advice to the captain. There is an influence in him and he is learning. If you put it in the deep end right away, then he will not understand,” Akram said to A Sports after the India-Pakistan battle.
Especially uska bhi jo role hai team main as a finisher: Misbah ul Haq
Misbah-ul-Haq, who was also a part of the show alongside Waqar Younis, said that the right-handed batter has all it takes to lead the Indian team and added that Pandya has mastered the role of a finisher for team India.
“Hardik Pandya ko agar aap dekhe, pehli dafa usne shayad captaincy ki hai, Indian T20 League main, and the way he led the team. Unhone Indian T20 League jeeti hai. Usse andaza hota hai ki how he handled the pressure (If you look at Hardik Pandya, he has captained for the first time and that too in the Indian T20 League. But what an amazing way he has led the team. The team managed to win the Indian T20 League under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. He knows how to handle pressure),” Misbah-ul-Haq said in the show.
“Especially uska bhi jo role hai team main as a finisher. And finisher aap team main tabhi ho sakte hai jab aap mentally strong ho and ek self belief ho. And woh read kar rahe the ki kis tarike se le ke jaa sakte hai (Hardik Pandya’s role is that of a finisher in the team. You get the role of finisher only when you are mentally very strong. Pandya was looking at how to progress in the game),” he added.