Hardik Pandya could emerge as the Most Valuable Player of IPL 2020 as felt by former Indian opener Aakash Chopra. He made this pick while responding to questions of fans in a video shared on his YouTube channel.
In the 12th edition of IPL in 2019, he scored 402 runs and picked up 14 wickets. He missed out on a lot of action owing to a back injury since then but has trained hard and is rearing to go in IPL 2020. A big hitter and a fast-bowling all-rounder, he performs every role that a team desires from an all-rounder.
Hardik Pandya Is Likely MVP Ahead Of Andre Russell Feels Aakash Chopra
On being asked about who could be the Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020, Aakash Chopra observed that it is likely to be an all-rounder while naming Hardik Pandya and Andre Russell as the primary contenders.
“It is going to be a herculean task to pick the most valuable player of the tournament before it has started.”‘
The renowned commentator opined that KXIP skipper KL Rahul and RCB captain Virat Kohli are the primary candidates to emerge as the top run-scorers of IPL 2020. He also picked spinner of RCB Yuzvendra Chahal as the probable highest wicket-taker with KKR’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Sunil Narine as the other contenders.
“In terms of highest run-scorer, it could be KL Rahul or Virat, one out of the two. Highest wicket-taker could be Chahal, I am very heavily loaded in favour of him.”
Aakash Chopra finally cast his vote in favour of Hardik Pandya as the probable Most Valuable Player in IPL 2020.
“I will go with Hardik Pandya as the Most Valuable Player for IPL 2020, let’s see. Because it will be a race between Hardik and Andre Russell, Hardik is coming back from an injury but I still want to put my money on him because I like this player a lot.”
Hardik Pandya has scored 1068 runs and taken 42 wickets in 66 IPL matches. He batting strike rate is 154.78 — and he has three fifties beside his name. He is placed 9th in the list of cricketers having maximum strike rate in IPL. The list is headed by Andre Russell.
Aakash Chopra Opted For Glenn Maxwell As An Unexpected Performer
Aakash Chopra opted for Glenn Maxwell when asked to pick an unexpected performer in IPL 2020, and called it an interesting choice.
“The player I am going to name is not unexpected but it is an interesting choice that I will be making. My choice is actually Glenn Maxwell.”
He reasoned that no one agrees with him on this pick, with Glenn Maxwell having flattered to deceive in the past seasons of the IPL.
“They say that he has been up and down and how many times we would be putting our money on him.”
The former KKR player mentioned that he intuitively feels that the big-hitting Australian would be a consistent performer in the upcoming edition of the IPL irrespective of KXIP’s chances to win IPL 2020.
“I have a very strong feeling that this will be a good year for him.”
Aakash Chopra signed off by iterating that he would go for Glenn Maxwell as the unexpected consistent performer for IPL 2020, despite his maverick nature.
“So, I am actually pinning my hopes on Glenn Maxwell, a mercurial maverick sort of player but it’s okay. Glenn Maxwell will be my choice for the unexpected consistent performer for IPL 2020.”
Glenn Maxwell is coming into the IPL in outstanding form from the just concluded Australia-England ODI series, where he was the Man of the Series. He was also adjudged the Man of the Match in the final encounter for taking his team to victory after having been totally out of the contest.
Glenn Maxwell scored 108 and Alex Carey scored 106 to lift Australia from 73/5 and both of them fell when they were only 20 runs or so short of target 305. His superb record in the UAE during the 2014 season of the IPL would also stand him in good stead.