Former Australian player Tom Moody has backed all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the Indian Premier League all-time best XI. The Star Sports experts were asked for their pick for the all-rounder role in the IPL.
The squad consists of playing 11, four impact substitutes, and 1 coach which will be picked with the inputs from 25 experts in the sport, 16 lakh fans, and 70 journalists who will vote for their picks in the team.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya has gone from strength to strength after making his IPL debut in 2015 for Mumbai Indians. Pandya also led Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022 and also led the franchise to the final in the previous season.
Pandya has scored 2309 runs in 123 IPL matches at an average of 30.38 and an impressive strike rate of 145.86. Furthermore, he has scalped 53 wickets in his IPL career and can bowl around the 140 kmph mark. The all-rounder returned to Mumbai Indians and will lead the five-time champions in the upcoming season.
Tom Moody said while talking to Star Sports, “I’m going with Hardik Pandya, on the basis that he can play as a finisher, he learnt that craft under the guidance of Pollard in MI for many years, and he then took on his journey to a different direction at Gujarat Titans, and batted further up the order. But for me, he’s a boundary hitter, can bat seven, but also gives you those valuable overs at a good pace.”
On the other hand, former Australian opener Matthew Hayden also concurred with Tom Moody as he picked Hardik Pandya as his all-rounder in the team.
“I don’t want to waste, if there is such a thing where you’re picking greats, an opportunity for an Indian talent instead of an overseas talent, so Hardik Pandya walks into my greatest eleven side for sure. I’m going to pick Jadeja as well, as I want that left-arm option, and a great fielder, which Hardik is as well. So Hardik at this stage is my choice.”
Meanwhile, Pandya recently returned to the practice session after recovering from an ankle injury, which he suffered in the ODI World Cup 2023.
IPL 2024 will begin on March 22.
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