"A 10-ball 25 changes everything"- Gautam Gambhir confident of Hardik Pandya's turnaround in form [SK Match ki Baat Exclusive]

Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir didn't read too much into Hardik Pandya's poor showing in the IPL 2024 season. The Mumbai Indians (MI) captain scored just 216 runs all season and picked up 11 wickets at an economy rate of 10.75.

However, Hardik has been nothing short of brilliant for the Indian team in the ongoing T20 World Cup. He's picked up eight wickets in six matches at an economy rate of 7.47.

Here's what Gautam Gambhir had to say about Hardik Pandya exclusively on Sporskeeda's SK Match ki Baat:

"Hardik has that ability, capability, mental strength and is the important member of that Indian team. He has got that X-factor be it as a batter, bowler or fielder. T20 cricket is such a format that a 10-ball 25 changes everything and everything starts to click. You pick two wickets in two balls and everything is back to normal."

Hardik has already won the Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup with a fine half-century off just 27 balls against Bangladesh in the Super 8. He also scored a handy cameo of 27* against Australia in a crucial win for the Men in Blue.

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Gautam Gambhir on Hardik Pandya and handling pressure

Gautam Gambhir also spoke about the pressure Hardik Pandya must have felt going into the T20 World Cup. He claimed that it wasn't different from how any other player would have felt because of the enormity of the stage. However, he feels that any player would look at that stage as an opportunity to perform and he reckons Hardik would have a similar mindset.

On this, Gambhir said:

"When you're playing international cricket, there will always be pressure on you, especially if you're playing a World Cup. Very few players get an opportunity to play a World Cup for their country. The kind of player Hardik is, I have got no doubt (he will come good).

"Every player in the world has gone through a bad patch. It is just not possible that you always keep performing."

India and England will face off on Thursday, June 27 in a repeat of the semifinal of the T20 World Cup from two years ago. Hardik had performed brilliantly in that encounter with 63 off just 33 balls. He once again could be the key to the Men in Blue potentially making it to the final.