Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra has contrasting views on all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s bowling and batting performance in the recently concluded five-match T20I series against South Africa. The youngster made a return to international after a long hiatus due to fitness concerns.

Hardik went wicketless in the five overs he bowled against the Proteas and conceded an average of 12.20 runs per over. On the flip side, he gave a good account of himself with the bat, scoring 117 runs at an excellent average of 58.50 and an equally impressive strike rate of 153.94.

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Aakash Chopra picked Ishan Kishan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dinesh Karthik and Harshal Patel as India’s top four performers in the recently concluded series. While picking Hardik at No. 5, the cricketer-turned-commentator said:

“At No. 5, I have got Hardik Pandya. Hardik Pandya the bowler hasn’t really arrived yet. We all feel that Hardik is going to bring balance but as of now, we have not seen that. We have just seen the trailer and not the picture. Have we actually seen enough, we haven’t, so let’s wait for that.”

However, Aakash Chopra lauded Hardik Pandya’s batting prowess. He said, “But batting, he scored 117 runs at a strike rate of 154. Once again, like Dinesh Karthik, he is the only guy who can bat at that number, who else do you have. Rishabh Pant is struggling at the top itself, there is no talk of down the order. He (Hardik) did not score a fifty, but you don’t get a fifty at that number.”

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“He didn’t flounder but flourished under pressure” – Aakash Chopra on Yuzvendra Chahal 

Aakash Chopra picked Yuzvendra Chahal as another of Team India’s star performers. After a poor start to the series, the seasoned leg-spinner bounced back in style in the next two matches. Chopra said:

“Last but not the least, I am going with Yuzi Chahal. Yuzi’s first two matches were not good. There was pressure on him about what had happened as it was six matches, two in this series and four in the IPL, where he had got very few wickets. But he didn’t flounder but flourished under pressure.”