Follow UsFormer India wicketkeeper-batter Kiran More has heaped heavy praise on Hardik Pandya for his contributions to the Men in Blue’s run to the final of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. India got the better of Australia in the semi-final and will now take on New Zealand in the grand finale in Dubai on March 9 (Sunday).
The likes of Virat Kohli, Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have scored a lot more runs than Pandya, while Mohammed Shami and Varun Chakravarthy have claimed more wickets, but the ace all-rounder has made important contributions in almost every game.
In the group game against Pakistan, Pandya dismissed Babar Azam and well-set Saud Shakeel, finishing with figures of 2/31 in eight overs. The Baroda-born all-rounder then hit a run-a-ball 45 against New Zealand and also got the big wicket of in-form Rachin Ravindra.
Then came the semi-final against Australia and Pandya once again stepped up when it mattered. In a tricky run-chase, the right-handed batter hit 28 off 24 balls and got India over the line.
“I thought his contributions against Pakistan and New Zealand were crucial too. He struck some lusty blows and made a few important breakthroughs,” More told the Times of India.
Pandya was supposed to be India’s next white-ball captain but his poor returns in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 and some injury concerns put him out of the captaincy race. The T20I captaincy went to Suryakumar Yadav, while Shubman Gill has been appointed India’s ODI vice-captain.
“He’s a lion-hearted cricketer. For the last six-seven months, it’s evident that he’s just enjoying his cricket. He is not someone who will hold grudges against anyone. Maaf karta hai aur chal deta hai (he forgives, forgets and moves on),” said More.