‘He’s our clutch player’ – Former India batter heaps huge praise on Hardik Pandya for his cool composure in tense situations

Former India batter Aakash Chopra has lavished huge praise on all-rounder Hardik Pandya for his cool composure. Pandya played crucial knocks twice, first in the semi-finals against Australia and then in the finals of the Champions Trophy against New Zealand on Sunday. The 31-year-old was also slotted in as the opening bowler after India decided to play four spinners in the second half of the campaign. 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, the 47-year-old said, “Hardik deserves recognition. I’ve said it many times—he’s our clutch player. Whenever the team seems to be in trouble, he remains calm under pressure. I don’t know how he does it. From the outside, it looks like a tough pitch where even singles were hard to come by, and hitting a six seems impossible. But he just stands there and sends the ball straight into the stands.”

In the five matches that were played in the tournament, Pandya picked up four wickets with the ball. Mumbai Indians’ skipper also scored 99 runs with the bat with a best of 45 that came in the final league match of the campaign against New Zealand. Rohit Sharma praised Pandya for his efforts with the bat and ball and his key partnerships with KL Rahul. 

Aakash Chopra’s lavish praise on Hardik Pandya and Axar Patel

“His skills are extraordinary. Right now, he might be the best finisher in the world. He brings balance with his bowling, allowing the team to play four spinners. Hardik and Axar Patel were greatly missed in the 2023 ODI World Cup final. If they had played, we could have lifted the trophy,” said Aakash Chopra

India’s former opening batter also praised Axar Patel, saying, “You’ve won the championship, and Axar Patel played a huge role in that. He doesn’t take small wickets—he dismisses key players like Glenn Maxwell, Kane Williamson, and Mohammad Rizwan. He bowls with the new ball in the powerplay and delivers crucial spells in the middle overs.”

Speaking about Axar Patel, the 47-year-old added, “Another crucial role he plays is batting at No. 5. A left-right combination is important, but it’s not just about having one—it’s about making it work. His success at No. 5 shows how well he fulfills that role. When the pressure is high, he steps up, reassures his partner, and takes charge of hitting while ensuring wickets don’t fall in clusters.”