The Team India limited-overs vice-captain and Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper, Rohit Sharma, has recently revealed that all-rounder Hardik Pandya has remained positive during his tough times.
The Indian pace-bowling all-rounder Pandya faced some rough time since the Asia Cup 2018. During that tournament in UAE, Pandya received an acute back injury that forced him to miss the cricket for around three months.
When he was ready to make his international comeback early this year, his career slightly messed up due to the talk-show controversy. In the famous Indian chat show, Koffee With Karan, Pandya (and KL Rahul) made some sexist and racist remarks on women. Soon, he faced massive criticism for those comments and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspended him alongside Rahul for an undefined period.
Around one month later, the BCCI withdrew his Rahul’s suspension after the duo apologised officially. Recently, the BCCI ombudsman DK Jain has sanctioned fine for him in this matter.
Since his return in cricket, Pandya has impressed by maintaining his familiar all-round forms. Pandya has played six international matches in this year where he has scored 86 runs (average 21.50) and taken seven wickets (average 34.42).
The all-rounder is in excellent form in the ongoing IPL 2019. Playing for MI, he has scored second most runs for his team in this season.
The right-handed batsman has scored 355 runs in 12 innings with an average of 50.71. Recently, he scored an incredible 91 runs off 34 balls against the host side Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR).
On the other hand, the right-arm pacer has also picked up ten wickets in this IPL season.
Hardik Pandya was a bit disappointed but in a good frame of mind – Rohit Sharma
Talking about Pandya’s rough phase, Rohit has recently revealed that the all-rounder was disappointed but didn’t lose his confidence. The MI captain also added that Pandya’s incredible comeback was a good lesson for every cricketer.
Rohit recently told Boria Majumdar in an interview, “Whatever happened in his personal life was very disappointing for him. But they way he came back from all of that, it is very important for a cricketer. There will be a lot of setbacks in your life but how you deal with them and bounce back is what matters.
“Hardik has made a good comeback. He rejoined the team in New Zealand, performed well there and now he is doing so well in the IPL. He is hitting the ball a long way. His confidence level never dipped even during that rough phase in his life. He was disappointed but his confidence was still up there.
“Even when I spoke to him after that I realised that he was a bit disappointed but in a good frame of mind.”
Hardik Pandya will be important for us in both departments in England – Rohit Sharma
Rohit Sharma has praised Hardik Pandya for both his bowling and batting skills. The Indian limited-overs vice-captain believes that Pandya will play an essential role for India in the upcoming World Cup.
Rohit added, “He is a good bowler who keeps the seam upright while bowling. If the conditions favour the bowlers then he will be very important for us. He will also be used in the finisher’s role in the batting order and he will bowl as well. So he will be important for us in both departments in England.”
England and Wales are ready to host the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup from 30th May to 14th July. India will begin there journey in this tournament on 5th June when they will face South Africa at Southampton.