"He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life" - Aakash Chopra lauds Hardik Pandya's performances in IND vs BAN 2024 T20I series
Aakash Chopra has lauded Hardik Pandya for his swashbuckling performances in the three-match T20I series between India and Bangladesh. He highlighted that the all-rounder has bounced back from setbacks in his personal and professional life.
Pandya smashed 47 runs off 18 deliveries as India set Bangladesh a 298-run target in the third T20I in Hyderabad on Saturday, October 12. The Men in Blue then restricted the Bangla Tigers to 164/7 to register a 133-run win and seal the series 3-0.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra,' the former India opener praised Hardik Pandya for staging a brilliant turnaround after experiencing multiple lows.
"If Sanju Samson was the Player of the Match, you will have to talk about Hardik Pandya, who was the Player of the Series. For Hardik, it was also important because of how the last year has been. He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life, getting booed, everything has happened," he said (3:35).
Chopra pointed out that the Baroda all-rounder played destructive cameos in all games.
"So to stage a turnaround from there, to keep smiling, and to do a good job when he got a chance. His batting in all three matches, he has played few balls but always with a strike rate above 200. I thought he was absolutely sensational," he observed.
Pandya smoked an unbeaten 39 off 16 deliveries in the first T20I in Gwalior. He followed that up with a 19-ball 32 in Delhi before playing the 47-run knock in Hyderabad.
"It was like hooliganism" - Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya's batting
![Pandya played a few audacious shots in the three T20Is against Bangladesh. [P/C: BCCI]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/10/df118-17287961503037-1920.jpg?w=500)
In the same video, Aakash Chopra opined that Hardik Pandya is back to his former best, if not better.
"His swag is different. It was like hooliganism. He hit a six over cover and a no-look one-handed six on the leg side, the bat had turned in his hand. He is batting differently. The way he has batted in this entire series, it's the good old Hardik Pandya or even better because we have seen him playing well but not with this swag," he said.
The cricketer-turned-commentator added that the former India skipper was virtually insulting the bowlers with his audacious approach.
"It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they don't have any status at all. You rarely get to see such kind of batting. It can only happen when you are extremely confident and are in phenomenal touch," Chopra observed.
Chopra pointed out the importance of an established player like Hardik Pandya performing well along with Sanju Samson, Mayank Yadav, and Nitish Kumar Reddy.
"At times, when we start looking at youngsters, we see Sanju Samson, Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, we forget that our seniors also have to play and perform well. Hardik Pandya is that guy. Thumbs up with both hands for him as well because he was absolutely stellar throughout the series. I liked him a lot," he elaborated.
Pandya smashed 118 runs at an average of 59.00 and a strike rate of 222.64 in his three innings. He picked up a solitary wicket in seven overs and took five catches, including a breathtaking one to dismiss Rishad Hossain in the second T20I.