Internet Desk: Former India captain and CAB President Sourav Ganguly heaped praise on the nation’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya has been the revelation of the recently concluded ODI series against Australia where the Men in Blue won by 4-1. According to Ganguly Pandya has improved a lot as a cricketer and has become a complete cricketer as well as a true match winner.
“India dominated the series in all aspects against Australia, except a few blemishes here and there. The biggest plus for me has been Hardik Pandya. He has shown progression in his game and in the last few months has evolved as one more match-winner,” Ganguly wrote in his column for The Times of India.
“He has natural talent and good temperament both while batting and bowling. He will need to keep on channelizing this in the right direction over a period of time,” the former India skipper added.
Ganguly also backed Ajinkya Rahane who scored five half centuries against the Aussies in the ODI series but unfortunately was not picked for the T20 series after the return of Shikhar Dhawan. Sourav said Rahane is one of India’s top performers and the selectors should think about him for the shortest format of the game too.
“Ajinkya Rahane has made the most of whatever opportunity he has got but I am sure, he too must have felt the pinch at missing out on a few hundreds. Rahane needs to be kept in the loop as an opener for T20s also because he definitely has value at the top,” Ganguly added.
India will play a three-match ODI series against New Zealand. The first ODI to be played in Mumbai October 22, which will be followed by Pune and Kanpur.