Ravichandran Ashwin has heaped praise on India’s vice-captain Hardik Pandya, extolling his remarkable batting prowess against spin bowling. Ashwin expressed his admiration for Pandya’s transformation, from a finisher to a reliable middle-order batter, especially since becoming captain of the Gujarat Titans in the IPL.
“I noticed this about Hardik. While he was playing for Mumbai Indians, he was donning only the finisher’s role. He would come to bat during the 15th, 16th or 17th over. But the moment he became the captain and went to Gujarat Titans, he started batting at No. 3. Hardik is a very clean striker against spin,” Ashwin said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“I’m not saying that he struggles against fast bowling or anything. He has the slog sweep. He has the conventional sweep as well. I remember Hardik scoring his first Test hundred at the same ground in Pallekele against Sri Lanka. He played those sweep shots in that game too. Some of them will tell you he can be dismissed if you bowl leg-spin to him. But his batting against spin has been exemplary,” the veteran off-spinner added.
Pandya began his IPL career with Mumbai Indians, where his role primarily involved finishing the innings, usually entering the crease during the later stages of the innings. However, his journey took a turn after assuming the role of captain for the Gujarat Titans.