Hardik Pandya is amongst the most finest all-rounders in the world. He belongs to a rare breed of player who has the potential and the skill-set to impact the match with both bat and ball. Though India reached the final of the 2023 ICC ODI World Cup, had Hardik Pandya played, the story could have been different. He is that sort of player who is a pure match winner, a difference maker.
As the the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 draws closer, Indian cricket teams fans are hoping that the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya can maintain his peak fitness as Pandya gives India a cutting edge.
Hardik Pandya on India vs Pakistan Match
The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy is all set to kick-off with the match between Pakistan and New Zealand on February 19. India, on the other hand, will start their tournament a day later against Bangladesh. For the uninitiated, all of India’s matches will be played in United Aran Emirates. Men In Blue will then play the highly-anticipated match against arch-rival Pakistan on February 23, followed by the final group match against New Zealand on March 2.
In an interview released by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, the Indian all-rounder discussed various topics, including the rivalry between India and Pakistan.
“It is just about who handles pressure better. I don’t play for Hardik Pandya; I play for the team. I play for India—that’s the goal. Whether that means playing just two balls at the end or batting for 60 balls, the focus is on taking the game ball by ball and getting closer to victory. Let’s see who cracks under pressure,” Pandya told ICC.
For all of India, for all the work we’ve put over years and years. There are no words, there are only emotions! Love this team, love playing for my country! No greater joy than winning for my country! Champions of the world 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🏆🏆 Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/TZTbW6i4gK
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) June 29, 2024
Hardik Pandya’s importance in the Indian team is also highlighted by the fact that he always brings his A-Game in big matches. And there’s no bigger cricket match than the India vs Pakistan match. Pandya has performed consistently well in these high-stake matches. He picked up 3 wickets in the 2022 T20 World Cup and two in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
“When I entered the field and saw the atmosphere—the kind of energy the fans and spectators were bringing—it was just amazing. I had to take a moment to absorb it. Even though I have played many games, it was overwhelming in a way that made me both excited and happy. The atmosphere for this match, especially since it was India vs. Pakistan, just took everything up a notch. This rivalry has existed for years. While we have intense competition on the field, there are also so many emotions involved. The engagement, the excitement—it’s a clash that people remember and eagerly wait for,” he added.
Surreal ❤️ Thank you for all the love Baroda, thank you for the support and thank you for making this such a special day. So many emotions, but always grateful. 🙏🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/PJ12bBUnjH
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) July 16, 2024
“My plan was very simple: to back my strengths and be smart about it. In the first two balls I bowled, I got a little too excited by the Australian bounce and the wicket. As a result, I bowled a couple of deliveries that turned out to be boundary balls in those conditions. When I came in for my second spell, we obviously needed wickets. I was aware that they were going to put the accelerator on and try to score boundaries to reach a decent total. That’s when I realized that sticking to good balls would be the key.“
“I was aggressive—I wanted to take wickets. My mindset was: ‘If you want to hit me, hit me off a good ball.’ That approach helped me take those two wickets. Just before that, I had kept the mid-on and mid-wicket fielders up, but for that particular ball, I sent one fielder back because I sensed he was going to go after me. I knew where my deliveries were landing and where the most likely scoring areas were—especially mid-wicket. Taking those wickets was quite satisfying,” Pandya, who dismissed Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz, said.
Currently, India is playing a three-match ODI series against England. The Men In Blue won the first ODI match by four wickets. The series is a perfect platform for Team India management to find the best combination for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
