ICC World Cup 2023 | Hardik Pandya - Records, Profile & SWOT Analysis

image-ln0277fhHardik Pandya (OneCricket Design Team)

Cometh the hour, cometh the man - this easily goes with the persona Hardik Pandya carries. Since his first day at the office, the Indian vice captain has been an integral part of the Indian setup, however, at this moment of time, he has become as important as a Rohit Sharma or Virat Kohli.

Pandya, thanks to his all-round skills, provides the balance that various teams lack heading into the big-ticket World Cup 2023. And at the top of his prowess, the 29-year-old can easily fit into any Playing XI both as a batter or a bowler. Having said that, the upcoming pinnacle tournament could easily be a make or break for Pandya, the match-winner.


Hardik Pandya Player Profile

Came to the Indian groove as a raw-talented, who could tonk the long ball and could bowl some spicy spells. With time, Pandya became an all-format player for India before turning into an vital cog.

The upcoming World Cup would be the Indian superstar's second 50-over WC. Last time, he was shade away from his supreme best, which may have cost the Men In Blue in 2019. However, the year 2023 could be the Hardik Pandya year.


Hardik Pandya Records

Debuting back in 2016, the maestro all-rounder has played over 180 international matches for his national team, where he scored more than 3500 runs and over 150 wickets. With Hardik matured as a player, the ODI format will the best one to ace as a player.


Hardik Pandya Batting Records

Format
Matches
Runs
Batting Ave
Batting S/R
50s/100s
In ODI Overall82175833.81110.2211/0
In World Cup922632.28112.430/0


Hardik Pandya Bowling Records

Format
Matches
Wickets
Economy
Bowling Ave
Bowling SR
In ODI Overall82795.5136.0339.20
In World Cup9105.6544.7047.40


Hardik Pandya: SWOT Analysis

Strengths

  • India's current biggest clutch player: Pandya saves his best for the most critical moments. Thus, it's won't be wrong to call the all-rounder India's current biggest clutch player. 
  • Provides balance to the lineup: As mentioned earlier, Pandya can feature in any team both as a batter or a bowler. And with him batting at number 6 and bowling 7-8 overs at any juncture of the game, he'll be Rohit Sharma's biggest asset in the World Cup.
  • Finishing skills: Apart from Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik is the only player in the current Indian line-up who could start hitting the ball out of the park from the word go. Unfortunately, Surya would struggle to find a place in the initial matches, making Hardik the sole finisher of the Indian team. 
  • Knack of picking crucial wickets: Hardik the batter may look a much more formidable force, but Hardik the bowler is no less. He would allow Rohit to field an extra bowling option in the lineup and he could scalp a couple of wickets here and there. 

Weakness

  • Slow starter as a batter: As Hardik has matured as a batter and moved up the order, his strike-rate has evidently fallen in the initial few deliveries.
  • Accuracy as a bowler: On good days, Hardik can finish his day with a couple of wickets but he has the tendency to leak runs in the middle overs as he fails to find right lines and lengths on flatter tracks.
  • Big teams could easily take on Hardik the bowler: Hardik's deficiency to bowl on flatter tracks could easily be exploited by the bigger teams, meaning Hardik could be India's weakest link if a batter decides to counter-attack.

Opportunities

  • Be the Yuvraj Singh of 2007, 2011: India have failed a win any ICC tournament in the last 10 years. One major reason has been an X-Factor like Yuvraj Singh who used to turn the game on its head. Hardik Pandya has the Yuvraj Singh spirit in him, now it's the time to deliver it on the big stage. 
  • Living up to his real potential: Potential wise there are a very players in the world who can match Hardik. However, Hardik himself hasn't shown what he posses as a cricketer. 

Threats

  • Fitness: If Hardik dies down in the middle of the tournament, there is no one in the whole of Indian cricket to replace him. India may have Shardul Thakur through their ranks, but he is something that Sanjay Manjrekar calls Ravindra Jadeja.

Player Rating

image-ln039x30Hardik Pandya (OneCricket Design Team)