Hardik Pandya Can Be Pakistan's Biggest Enemy Vs India In Asia Cup; Here's Why

Hardik Pandya has been a consistent performer vs PAK [Source: AFP]

After securing an emphatic win over the United Arab Emirates, India are all set to clash with arch-rivals Pakistan in their second match of the Asia Cup 2025. The highly anticipated encounter will take place at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. 

While Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma will be in the limelight, the Indian fans must have high hopes from premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya due to several reasons, as explained below. 

Hardik Pandya's Overall Record Vs Pakistan

(Pandya has numbers against Pakistan in International cricket)

• As shown in the above table, Hardik Pandya has been one of India's most successful players against Pakistan in international cricket. Apart from scoring 308 runs, including two fifties, Pandya has bagged 23 wickets at an average of 17.47 and a superb strike rate of 18.6. 
• These numbers suggest that he has enjoyed playing against Pakistan and will be one of India's biggest hopes on Sunday. 

Instances When Pandya became Pakistan's headache

(Hardik Pandya's notable performances vs Pakistan in marquee tournaments)

• Hardik Pandya's first moment of glory against Pakistan came in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, where he kept the Indian hopes alive during his stay in the middle. After Mohammad Amir triggered India's top-order collapse, Pandya stood up to the expectations, leaving the Men in Green shell-shocked with a fiery 43-ball 76-run knock. Although India lost the game, Pandya's heroics showcased his ability to remain unfazed in high-pressure games. 
• The seam-bowling all-rounder also grabbed the limelight in the 2022 Asia Cup match that he finished with a match-winning six. He bagged three wickets and assisted Virat Kohli in finishing the thrilling chase in the 2022 T20 World Cup contest against Pakistan. The star player also oozed his class with the in the 2023 and 2024 World Cups before playing a pivotal role in India's emphatic win over their arch-rivals in the Champions Trophy affair in Dubai. 
• Thus, Pandya has always stepped up against Pakistan, which is why the Men in Green should be careful of him in the upcoming encounter. 

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Incredible all-round prowess and impact

Pandya's calm and cool finishing skills make him an asset

(Hardik Pandya's batting stats as a finisher in slog overs)

• Hailed for his extraordinary power-hitting, Hardik Pandya has the calibre to hold his nerves under pressure. Given that players from both sides remain under the pump in India vs Pakistan contests, Pandya's ability to remain composed and play according to the match situation gives him psychological edge over his counterparts. 
• Additionally, his aggressive intent is clearly understood from the above stats, which depict that he takes only 4.17 deliveries to hit a boundary while scoring 68.35 per cent of his runs through fours and sixes in the final five overs. 

Bowling versatility across phases

(Pandya's impressive numbers in 7-20 overs)

• Apart from his finishing skills, what makes Hardik Pandya a genuine match-winner is his ability to operate with the ball across all three phases of the game. The aforementioned stats exhibit his bowling prowess in the middle and death overs, highlighting how he can be India's potent weapon against Pakistan's middle-order batters. 
• If India make Arshdeep Singh sit out once again, Pandya might be seen opening the bowling alongside Jasprit Bumrah. His ability to swing the new ball up front could cause serious trouble for Pakistan's top-order batters, making him a genuine threat to the opponents in this match. 

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