Hardik Pandya emulates Kapil Dev's 34-year-old record with his all round performance this year

Ever since Kapil Dev’s retirement, India has seen a number of fast bowling all-rounders try out their luck. The likes of Irfan Pathan, Stuart Binny, Rishi Dhawan, etc have arrived and faded away. No player has quite created an impact at the international stage since Kapil and now there is Hardik Pandya. Over the last couple of years, he has developed as a formidable prospect in the Indian XI.

From scoring runs at an extraordinary pace to getting breakthroughs at important junctures, Pandya has aced it all. ‘Kung Fu Panda’ as he’s referred achieved another feat today. As he dismissed Sachith Pathirana today, Pandya completed 30 wickets this year having also scored 557 runs.

The record

The all-rounder thus became only the second Indian player to do the double of 500 runs and 30 wickets in a year. The first player was of course the legendary and World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev. The former Indian all rounder had achieved the same in 1983. Thus, Kapil finally has someone for company in the 34-year-old record list.

Ever since his stint with Mumbai Indians in 2015, Pandya has molded into the public frame. While he had his ups and downs during the T20 season in 2016, the he has been significant for the Indian team across all formats of the game this year. The biggest improvement in him is his bowling where he has shown a lot more control.

With the bat in hand, a lanky looking Pandya has a special knack of hitting some huge sixes. His innings in the Champions Trophy final was a sublime proof of the same. He has the ability to get going from the very first ball and comes especially hard at the spinners.

With the South African tour just two weeks away, Hardik’s role there as the seam bowling all-rounder will determine a lot of things for the Indian team who will be searching their first series win on the Proteas soil.