IPL 2022: Sunil Gavaskar believes Hardik Pandya completed his 'all-rounder' aspect for Gujarat Titans

Experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya has impressed everyone with his leadership skill - be it fans, current players or former players.

Gujarat Titans vs Sunrisers Hyderabad (Image CreditsL Twitter)
By Shurti Banerjee | May 30, 2022 | 3 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya has impressed everyone with his leadership skill – be it fans, current players or former players. His rapid rise as a captain in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League made headlines and, former India captain, Sunil Gavaskar is not an exception too as well. However, the batting legend has said that Hardik’s leadership is an aspect of his game that impressed everyone as well as left them surprised too. Notably, Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to their maiden Indian Premier League title that too on their debut season as well. They beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in the IPL 2022 final at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, May 29 as well.

However, Hardik Pandya led the team from the front throughout the season which also included the all-important final. He picked up 3 wickets for just 17 runs and scored a crucial 34 as Gujarat Titans successfully chased down a below-par total of 131 with 11 balls to spare as well. Meanwhile, questions were asked when he was appointed captain of the newly added side in the cash-rich league as well. But, he gave the fitting answers to his critics as well.

READ MORE: IPL Final: ‘Our cricketing minds work in a similar fashion’ – Hardik Pandya on Ashish Nehra

“That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy” – Sunil Gavaskar on Hardik Pandya

“Yes definitely. Not just my estimation, but everybody’s estimation (Hardik’s reputation as a leader has gone up). This was an aspect of his game which nobody had too much information about,” Sunil Gavaskar said to Star Sports. “We all knew what he could do with the bat, what he could do with the ball, but there was just a little bit of a concern before the start of the season about whether he would be able to bowl his full quota of 4 overs. He has done that, he has shown that. That all-rounder aspect is done, and everybody is happy.”

“But this now, the way he has led the team, the way he has got them together, the way he has got them to gel together means he has got leadership qualities. When you have leadership qualities, it automatically opens the door for honours at the national level to be able to captain the Indian national team in the near future. So that’s exciting, there are 3-4 other names in the ring. I am not saying he is the next in line. But for the selection committee to have that option is fantastic,” he again shared about the all-rounder.

READ MORE: IPL Final: Hardik Pandya always ready to fight for Gujarat Titans, says Vikram Solanki

Hardik Pandya has finished the IPL 2022 season with 487 runs and 8 wickets as he won his maiden Indian Premier League trophy as a skipper and as a player, this is his 5th trophy as he won his previous trophies while playing for Mumbai Indians. However, he also got the reward as he has earned his place back in the Indian team in the 18-member squad for the upcoming limited-overs series against South Africa in June. This is going to be a five-match T20I series which will take place in Delhi, Cuttack, Visakhapatnam, Rajkot and Bengaluru respectively as well.