"You don't have anyone else like Hardik" - Aakash Chopra lauds Hardik Pandya's knock in IND vs SA 2024 2nd T20I
Aakash Chopra has claimed that Hardik Pandya is a 'one-in-a-billion' player for India. He pointed out that the Men in Blue, despite their best efforts, haven't been able to find a player with similar all-round skills.
Hardik scored an unbeaten 39 off 45 deliveries as India set South Africa a 125-run target in the second T20I in Gqeberha on Sunday, November 10. His knock went in vain though as the hosts chased the target with three wickets and an over to spare to draw level in the four-match series.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel 'Aakash Chopra', the former India opener noted that Hardik Pandya brings unique attributes to the table.
"Honestly speaking and there is no recency bias in that, he is one in a billion. I am saying that because you don't have anyone else like Hardik. You are consistently trying. You are searching for different things. You played Shivam Dube. You got Venkatesh Iyer to bowl," he said (6:30).
Chopra added that although multiple seam-bowling all-rounders have been fast-tracked, they haven't matched Hardik's level.
"You got Nitish Kumar Reddy to bowl and bat. You played him up the order and now you are drafting Ramandeep Singh into the team, and all of them are getting fast-tracked. You feel you should try everyone because no one has the skillset he has, a fast-bowling all-rounder," he observed.
While Shivam Dube is injured, Venkatesh Iyer doesn't seem to be in India's scheme of things. Nitish Kumar Reddy is part of India's Test squad for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Ramandeep Singh has traveled to South Africa for the ongoing T20I series but hasn't played a game yet.
"He has got the ability to take the game till the end" - Aakash Chopra on Hardik Pandya
![Hardik Pandya walked out to bat when India were reduced to 45/4. [P/C: BCCI/X]](https://statico.sportskeeda.com/editor/2024/11/c1af0-17312968591795-1920.jpg?w=500)
Reflecting on Hardik Pandya's knock in Sunday's game, Aakash Chopra acknowledged that the all-rounder started slowly. However, he praised him for staying till the end.
"When he came to bat, the conditions were slightly difficult, the bounce was slightly up and down, and the pace was also not consistent. It seemed like he was getting slightly stuck against spin but he has got the ability to take the game till the end," he said (7:15) in the same video.
The cricketer-turned-commentator opined that Hardik should have rotated the strike when he had Arshdeep Singh at the other end.
"However, I have an opinion that he should have taken singles in the end. He played many dot balls. You should have taken singles till Arshdeep was there. After that, it's okay if you didn't. Arshdeep even hit a six," Chopra observed.
However, Chopra lauded Hardik for his strokeplay and ability against both pace and spin.
"That aside, he has got the game. We saw the shots over the keeper against Bangladesh. Here also we saw him playing those kinds of shots. At times, some players play well against spin and others play well against fast bowling, and struggle vice versa, but he plays well against both," he elaborated.
Aakash Chopra pointed out that Hardik Pandya can play well in the middle overs and at the death. He added that the right-arm seamer can bowl at 140 kph and even hit Aiden Markram on the helmet with a bouncer.