'It was almost like insulting the bowlers' - Aakash Chopra lauds Hardik Pandya after India's series win versus Bangladesh

Aakash Chopra was effusive in his praise for Hardik Pandya, who played a key role for India in their 3-0 clean sweep over Bangladesh in the recently-concluded T20I series.

Hardik won the Player of the Series award after contributing with both bat and ball. He also fielded brilliantly during the series and silenced the critics who kept questioning his fitness. The Baroda all-rounder was in scintillating form with the bat as he finished as the second-highest run-scorer in the series, amassing 118 runs from three outings. He averaged a staggering 59 and scored his runs at a stunning strike rate of 222.64.

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Chopra said that the 31-year-old persevered after going through a tough passage in his life. The former India cricketer hailed Hardik's performance in the series, pointing out the ease with which he faced the Bangladeshi bowlers.

"Hardik Pandya was the Player of the Series. He has seen the lows of lows in his personal and professional life, getting booed - everything has happened. 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,” said Chopra on his Youtube Channel.

“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... He is batting differently. It was almost like insulting the bowlers, as though they don’t have any status at all,” he added.

Hardik Pandya's performance in T20I cricket in 2024

Hardik returned to competitive cricket during the Indian Premier League (IPL) earlier this year after suffering an ankle injury in the ODI World Cup 2023. He returned to Mumbai Indians after spending two years at Gujarat Titans and replaced Rohit Sharma as the skipper of the five-time IPL-winning franchise. However, fans weren't happy with his appointment as he was trolled on social media and greeted with boos during matches. Mumbai finished last in the season and his own performances left a lot to be desired.

However, the BCCI selectors trusted his calibre and picked him in India's 15-man squad for the T20 World Cup 2024. The Choryasi-born didn't disappoint as his all-round efforts were crucial to India's triumph in the marquee event.

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In 2024, Hardik has scored 293 runs from 11 innings at an average of 48.83 and a strike rate of 175.44. He has also bagged 14 wickets at an average of 22.35 and an economy rate of 8.23. India's next T20I assignment is a four-match series against South Africa in the Rainbow Nation in November. Hardik will hope to continue his purple patch during the high-profile series.