Sanjay Bangar heaps praise on Hardik Pandya ahead of 2023 Asia Cup final

Hardik Pandya is getting geared up to play the final game of Asia Cup 2023. This is his first-ever final with the national team in a major tournament. The 29-year-old, in the last few years, has become one of the main players. Pandya is now being viewed as the captain of the white ball format after Rohit Sharma.

Former Indian batting coach, Sanjay Bangar praised Hardik Pandya lavishly. Bangar, who played for India in 12 Test matches, has seen some of the players from close quarters. The 50-year-old was a key part of the Ravi Shastri-led coaching panel, along with Bharat Arun as the bowling coach for Team India.

Sanjay Bangar’s lavish praise for Hardik Pandya –

Former Indian all-rounder and batting coach, Sanjay Bangar is currently with Star Sports India as a commentator. During the course of his interaction with the news agency PTI, the former Indian batting had words of praise for Hardik Pandya.

The former Indian batting coach said, “He has matured a lot over the years. He had some setbacks in terms of his fitness but he has now worked hard to reach where he is now. He has shouldered the responsibilities very well and is captaining India in T20s. He gives a lot of balance to the team being an all-rounder,”

Pandya began the Asia Cup with a score of 87 against Pakistan at Pallekele. The 29-year-old has also picked 3 wickets in the tournament with a best of 1/14 against Sri Lanka. In his only other outing with the bat Hardik Pandya scored just 5 before getting out to Dunith Wellalage.

The former Indian star also praised the Indian bowling unit mentioning the three seam bowlers and spinner Kuldeep Yadav. “We have one of the best attacks going into the World Cup. We have two fine new ball bowlers in Bumrah and Siraj, and then there is the experienced Shami. Kuldeep (Yadav) has so many variations, as he offers a wicket-taking option”

Speaking about the all-rounders, Sanjay Bangar stressed the importance of Ravindra Jadeja and Hardik Pandya. The 50-year-old termed India as one of the favourites to lift the 2023 ODI World Cup. “(Ravindra) Jadeja too is around. As we spoke earlier, Hardik does give India a wonderful option with the ball. Overall, I think India has a strong and complete bowling line-up going into the World Cup”