“He doesn’t feel pressure” - Aakash Chopra reveals India’s special player ahead of Pakistan clash

Former Indian cricketer and commentator Aakash Chopra has heaped praise on the Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who played a responsible knock against Namibia on Thursday, February 12, in Delhi.

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Speaking exclusively on his YouTube channel, Chopra asserted that, unlike in the USA game, Hardik took his own time before going for shots against Namibia, as he went on to score 52 runs off 28 balls with four fours and as many sixes.

"Tilak Varma played almost a run-a-ball. Suryakumar Yadav got out stumped. When Ishan Kishan got out, it seemed like we might get stuck. I think Hardik Pandya, our hard-hitting Pandya, it was important for him to play well," Chopra said on his YouTube channel.

"However, this time, he didn't do what he did against USA, that he would come and hit a six off the first ball. He said he would take his time and play a little cautiously at the start. He did hit a straight six, but after that also, he was going at almost a run-a-ball," he added.

Furthermore, the former cricketer went on to term Hardik as ‘an absolute gold dust’, adding that he is a special player because of his temperament and range of shots he possesses towards long-on, long-off, and midwicket regions.

"What makes Hardik special? One is the temperament. He doesn't feel the pressure. It just brings the best out of him. Point two, he hits shots over long-off while standing still. You cannot hit sixes over long-off while standing still," he noted.

"You can maybe go towards long-on and midwicket. He hits there as well, but his specialty is that he hits sixes over long-off while standing still, and does that consistently, and hits them flat because how will you generate power in that direction in an aerial shot? You won't be able to make a parabola. He is absolutely gold dust," he concluded.

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India will next take on Pakistan in their third group stage game on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.

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