Former West Indies great fast bowler Michael Holding was the target of all the trollers after Hardik Pandya scalped his maiden fifer in the red ball version. Hardik Pandya was right on the money as he got the ball to move away from the right-handers.
More importantly, the Indian all-rounder was able to get the right length. Pandya got the ball in the corridor of uncertainty as he breathed down the neck of the England batsmen.
Hardik Pandya was right on the money.
Meanwhile, Michael Holding had raised questions over the performance of Hardik Pandya before the third Test match. Holding said while talking to ESPN Cricinfo, “I heard a mention when I was working in South Africa – ‘he is the next Kapil Dev’. I ain’t going to tell anybody he’s not going to be the next Kapil Dev, but he is nowhere near there yet. And they need to find someone who can contribute a lot more to this team right now”.
“It seems as if he’s the golden boy in this team. Everyone thinks he’s going to be the next Kapil Dev. He hasn’t shown that yet. Why not pick a batsman? Pandya got a few runs in the second innings but is he a better batsman than Pujara? I don’t think so, and you don’t need him as a bowler in my eyes,” Holding said.
Pandya was not able to hit the right areas before the third Test as Whispering Death raised question over his selection. However, Pandya was much better as he found his touch in a do or die situation for India.
Thus, Pandya was able to let his bowling to all the talking for him. Pandya said he don’t want to be likened with Kapil Dev in the post-match press conference.
“I have never wanted to be Kapil Dev,” Pandya told reporters.
“Let me be Hardik Pandya, I am good at being Hardik Pandya, I played 41 ODIS and 10 Tests being Hardik Pandya, not Kapil Dev.”
Here is how Twitter trolled Michael Holding:
https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/1031204921163567105
If Pandya takes more wickets and scores runs, the only mic drop we will see is from Michael Holding. #EngvInd
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) August 19, 2018
Hardik Pandya to Michael Holding later tonight#ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/5zBDmdnoQz
— RS (@AwaraRish) August 19, 2018
As if some kind of divine punishment, Michael Holding is being made to sit through and shower praises at this breathtaking spell of bowling by Hardik Pandya, the guy Holding dismissed as an IPL show pony.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 19, 2018
Just like Pollard answered to Sanjay Manjrekar, I want Hardik Pandya to hit back at Michael Holding. #ENGvIND
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) August 19, 2018
Michael Holding: “Kohli needs to score runs in England to be considered as a great batsman”
*Kohli scores 2 centuries in next 3 tests.
MH: Pandya is not ready for Tests.
*Pandya takes fifer in next innings.#EngvInd
— Dr. AJ (@DarrKeAage) August 19, 2018
https://twitter.com/SirJadejaaaa/status/1031251366600007680
Hardik Pandya gave a simple answer to everyone who's questioning on his selection!! Michael holding said after previous match that "Pandya is not capable of playing test cricket" but Hardik accepted the challenge and proved his place #INDvENG #KyaHogaIssBaar @hardikpandya7 @BCCI
— Akshat Renu (@known_as_aks) August 20, 2018
Now I want Michael Holding to criticise the Indian batting line up the way he criticised Hardik Pandya, I am sure it will bring in more luck #ENDvIND #INDvENG
— YB (@barmare_yusuf) August 19, 2018