Picture Credit: Twitter
India all-rounder and Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya has recently revealed that former India, Mumbai and Vidharabha batter Wasim Jaffer was his favourite player growing up. Pandya was talking on the SG podcast.
He said, "Like everyone, I had favourite cricketers. I liked Jacques Kallis, Virat, Sachin sir. There are so many greats that you can't pick. My favourite cricketer was actually Wasim Jaffer. I used to love watching him bat. Someone I always placed him above other legends. Somehow, I used to copy his batting, but I was never able to get his class."
“Krunal and I are each other's backbone,” says Hardik Pandya
In the same podcast, Hardik Pandya also talked about his brother Kunal Pandya’s role in his life and their playing days when they would help each other to improve their game. The 28-year-old said, “Krunal and I are each other's backbone. We talk cricket, life and a lot of things. If you would have asked me six years before that both you brothers would play for India together, I would take it.”
"Krunal and I were completely different cricketers. He was a left-handed batter who could bowl while I used to bowl leg-spin and bat right-handed. He used to bat at 4-5 and I used to bat at No. 3. We never had a rivalry because our roles were always different. I used to play Under-16, he played Under-19. But we were there for each other so make sure we improve in all departments," Hardik said.
What I did for my franchise, I will also make sure that I can also do the same for my country: Hardik Pandya
Hardik is also set to comeback to international cricket after the last T20 World Cup and has expressed how is he getting ready to play for the national team and recreate the success he had with his franchise.
“The old Hardik will be back. Now the fans are back, it's time for me to make comeback. A lot of matches are going to be played and I'm looking forward to it. What I did for my franchise, I will also make sure that I can also do the same for my country," Hardik said.