Hindustan Times (Patiala)

HARDIK IS MORE TALENTED THAN ANYONE IN INDIA TEAM: SEHWAG

- Press Trust of India sportsdesk@hindustant­imes.com n

India World Cup team’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya has talent unmatched by any other player in the national squad, says big-hitting former opener Virender Sehwag.

According to Sehwag, Hardik is the one cricketer who has become irreplacea­ble in the India team in recent times.

Hardik played a pivotal role in Mumbai Indians’ record fourth title triumph in the IPL recently, coming into the lucrative T20 league after enduring a tumultuous phase following his outrage-evoking remarks on a chat show.

Having served the ensuing ban, the star all-rounder pummelled 402 runs in 15 innings in the IPL at a staggering strike rate of 191.42, and a highest score of 91. “There is no one even close to Hardik Pandya’s talent with both bat and ball. If there was someone in the threedimen­sional players picked by BCCI selectors, Pandya would not have made it back into the squad,” Sehwag told cricbuzz.com.

Hardik is part of the 15-man India squad for the upcoming World Cup and is expected to leave his mark on the showpiece event in England with his exploits. He has so far played 45 ODIs and scored 731 runs and taken 44 wickets.

“I played well this season, but now it’s time to move on. I want to lift that World Cup trophy as well,” Hardik had said after Mumbai Indians beat CSK by 1 run in the IPL final in Hyderabad on Sunday.

 ?? AFP ?? Hardik Pandya.
AFP Hardik Pandya.

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