New Zealand vs India 2019: 3 Indian players whose performance will closely watched in the T20I series

3. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya has gone through a lot personally and professionally in recent times. He was ruled out of India's tour of Australia owing to an injury. And in the middle of his recovery and the road back to the Indian team, his antics along with those of KL Rahul on the chat show Koffee With Karan meant he was banned for 3 games.

More than the ban imposed on him, it was the nature of the comments he made on the chat show that was uncalled for. He is considered by many youngsters as a role model, and his behavior completely goes against the ethos of how an international cricketer should behave in the public domain.

It was refreshing to see Pandya put all the off-field drama behind him and make a positive comeback into the ODI set up against the Kiwis recently. Pandya offers a complete package - very good in the field, effective bowler and a swashbuckling batsman coming lower down the order - and that's what makes him so useful to the team.

All these factors were visible in the ODI series. His marvelous catch to dismiss Kane Williamson will be remembered for a long time; it clearly was the catch of the series. And the way he marauded five sixes in Wellington after Ambati Rayudu and Vijay Shankar steadied the innings signified his finishing abilities.

The T20I series will provide Pandya the opportunity to express himself to the fullest, and his fans would be hoping they can get to see some entertaining cricket from him.