Former Indian cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin has credited Hardik Pandya's brilliant performance in the first T20I of the five-match series between India and South Africa. Hardik secured Player of the Match award for his scintillating, unbeaten 28-ball 59 in India's series-opening clash against the Proteas.
Ashwin stated that the the opposition did not have adequate resources to counter Hardik. He also said that it never felt that Hardik was returning from an injury and was playing after a long layoff.
Before admitting that India did not have a like-for-like replacement for Hardik, the erstwhile spinner conceded that the 32-year-old looked at ease while batting in the middle.
