Zaheer Khan opens up on the area Hardik Pandya can improve to emerge as a true match-winner for India

Ahead of the India tour of Australia, all-rounder, Hardik Pandya was added to the Indian squad as a specialist batsman for the number 6 batting position as he wants to give his body some time to heal from back surgery before he starts his job as a full-time bowler. Thus, there were many questions on whether he would be able to contribute to the team as a batsman.

However, Pandya managed to shut the mouth of critics by perfectly essaying the role of a middle-order batsman and a finisher for the squad. In both the ODI and T20I series, Hardik’s fearless power-hitting has been the key for India on Australian soil. Speaking about Hardik, veteran Indian pacer Zaheer Khan, who closely monitored the batsman in IPL 2020 in Mumbai Indians camp, opined that the Surat-born is confident about his game and doesn’t feel any pressure of dot balls.

“He’s just so relaxed and not really frustrated by the dot balls if there are any at that stage. Just because of the belief he has. If he can hit six at any stage and he waits for that bowler to make that error. He makes sure that the bowler is under pressure,” Zaheer Khan told Cricbuzz.

“More and more he is going in his career, you know, he’s going to create a reputation like this which is going to be very hard for any bowler to deal with at that stage if he is at the crease,” the former pacer added.

Hardik Pandya is a great asset to have: Zaheer Khan

Pandya has already proved his mettle as a good middle-order batsman and fielder for India. Thus, Zaheer feels that once the 27-year-old starts bowling, he will emerge as a great asset and match-winner for the Men in Blue. Also, the addition of Hardik as a bowler will provide a much-needed balance to the Indian side.

“You know the kind of batting which he is doing, add his bowling to it and his fielding. And then, he is a great asset to have – a match-winner. Something which he should always consider to work on is his bowling and provide that kind of a balance to the side.

“He is definitely used this time at the moment to turn things around with regards to his batting. He is going in confidence and turning out to be a great impact player at this level,” reckoned Zaheer.