Team India is relishing Hardik Pandya's return to full fitness as the all-rounder consistently delivers with both bat and ball. While Pandya's focus on white-ball formats helps, it marks a return to his best form—regularly bowling for India. After his back surgery post-2019 World Cup, it wasn't until IPL 2022 that he started bowling frequently again. However, until last year, he had been cautious about bowling regularly in matches.

Fortunately, those concerns have eased as Pandya has evolved into a key bowler. In T20Is, he ensures to bowls his full quota of four overs, even occasionally opening the bowling. Though bowling a full 10 overs in ODIs may take more time, former India pacer Zaheer Khan is excited to see Pandya enjoy his bowling like never before.

Zaheer praised Pandya, saying, "That's what we've been saying… if Hardik the bowler steps up, the whole balance of the side changes. Over time, he's been a reluctant bowler, fighting his own battles with injuries and back issues, which made him hesitant to take on a bigger role with the ball. But gradually, he's understood that it's crucial for him to take up that responsibility for the team, and that's really important."

Hardik Pandya's rise from the ashes

Zaheer's 'apprehensive' view came from the uncertainty surrounding Pandya's career at the time. After being ruled out of the 2023 World Cup, Pandya faced numerous challenges—his ankle injury, mistreatment by Mumbai Indians fans, reports of a rift with Rohit Sharma, and the tension in the MI dressing room following a disappointing IPL 2024 campaign. These issues seemed to take a toll on him.

Additionally, Hardik's relationship with his ex-wife Natasa Stankovic was also reportedly going through a rough patch. Overcoming all of these personal and professional setbacks to play a key role in India's T20 World Cup victory was a massive turning point for the all-rounder. Since then, he has only built on that momentum, impressing with both bat and ball for Baroda. It's no surprise that Pandya is now in such a strong position.

"The numbers back that up, and I'm sure with time, he's realized the importance of being Hardik the bowler. It’s evident now in his preparations for the series. He’s no longer looking at it negatively, and that's a great sign. When you see them having 3 or 4 spinners in the side, they trust Hardik enough to do the job," Zaheer added.

Read Also: Jasprit Bumrah has been honored as the ICC Men's Test Cricketer of the Year for 2024

Get the latest Bollywood entertainment news, trending celebrity news, latest celebrity news, new movie reviews, latest entertainment news, latest Bollywood news, and Bollywood celebrity fashion & style updates!