Told Mumbai crowd to ‘behave’ because Hardik Pandya is a big match player: Sanjay Manjrekar

Former Indian batter Sanjay Manjrekar was trolled on social media when he told the Mumbai crowd to behave when they were booing Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024. After Pandya lifted the T20 World Cup as India registered a seven-run win against South Africa, Manjrekar noted that Pandya is a big match player.

Pandya returned with impressive figures of 3-20 in the three overs he bowled in the summit clash. The all-rounder got the big wicket of Heinrich Klassen with a wide slower delivery when South Africa needed 26 runs off 24 balls. Subsequently, Pandya got the big wicket of David Miller when he was backed by Rohit Sharma to bowl the final over when India had 16 runs in the bank.

Moreover, Pandya scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 in the T20I showpiece. Pandya also scalped 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.61.

“What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.

Manjrekar noted that India felt safe when Pandya came out to bowl in the final over against the Proteas as they knew he would hold his nerves.

“We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage. Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that’s what he is all about. You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly,” he concluded.

Pandya was able to prove his mettle and he would want to continue the good show. The all-rounder is also expected to lead India in T20Is after Rohit Sharma’s retirement.