Indian team won the first T20I match by 2 runs in the ongoing T20I series against Sri Lanka. The sub-continent nation clashed were nail-biting, and the Indian team grabbed the match on the last ball of the 20th over. Skipper Hardik Pandya did a good job in the first match, whereas his deputy Surya did well when Hardik went out of the field due to a leg cramp.
This year Indian team will play prestigious tournaments with the white ball, like; Asia Cup 2023 and ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, which is scheduled to be hosted in India. And Hardik Pandya is going through the best phase of his career with the white ball. He will play a clinical role in the upcoming tournaments.
Looking at the important tournament, former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir advised the Indian team to start grooming another all-rounder because if something happened to him, it would be great trouble for the Indian team.
“India needs to quickly identify a backup for Hardik; if something happens to him, India will be in serious trouble,” said Gambhir.
Gambhir praised the performance of Hardik Pandya in the T20 World Cup 2022 performances in the semifinal match. He is the X factor of the Indian cricket team and dares to play fearless cricket.
“Looking at the World Cup as well, I think in the semifinal when it came to that crunch game, where India was under pressure. And then playing that kind of a blinder (63 off 33). I think he has that X-factor. Hopefully, he can also try to give other guys that X-factor or courage. This is a very young side, they are fearless, and that is what you want to see in T20I cricket,” Gambhir praised him.
Further, Gambhir added that his comeback was brilliant. Recently, he showed outstanding performance with the Indian team in the Indian Premier League 2022 and made his team win the maiden title.
“Pandya has been brilliant. Since he has come out of that controversy and taken over as captain of Gujarat Titans, he has won the IPL. He has done everything possible that was asked of him, from the Indian cricket point of view,” Gautam further added.
Gautam Gambhir was part of the two-time world cup winning team, and in both world cup finals, he played the crucial knock for his team.
