Hardik Pandya’s swagger-filled masterclass against South Africa echoed Sir Vivian Richards, according to former India batter Robin Uthappa. He believes such intimidation-driven cricket defines India’s ideal T20 template going forward.
In the India vs South Africa T20I in Ahmedabad, Hardik Pandya captivated audiences with his aggressive batting. Former India batter Robin Uthappa compared Pandya's performance to that of West Indies legend Sir Vivian Richards. Uthappa stated, 'Hardik Pandya’s swagger-lit masterclass against South Africa had echoes of Sir Vivian Richards.'
The match was part of the India-South Africa T20 series, where Pandya scored India's fastest T20I fifty and formed a crucial partnership with Tilak Varma. He was named Player of the Match. Uthappa believes this intimidating style of cricket will shape India's template for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Pandya's form has solidified his position in the T20 squad. This performance played a key role in India's series victory over South Africa.