Team India star all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be seen playing in the upcoming T20 series against South Africa. This will be Hardik’s first time playing since the Asia Cup. He suffered an injury during the Asia Cup, which also kept him out of the T20 series against Australia. In the series against South Africa, Hardik has the opportunity to achieve a feat that only three players have ever achieved in T20 Internationals. He could also reach 100 wickets in T20Is during this series.
Hardik Pandya can create record against South Africa T20 series
Hardik Pandya has scored 1860 runs and taken 98 wickets in T20Is so far. If Pandya scores 140 runs and takes two wickets in the series against South Africa, he will achieve the record of 2000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I cricket. So far, only three players have achieved this record in T20 International cricket.
This record was first achieved by Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan. After him, Afghanistan’s star all-rounder Mohammad Nabi and Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza have also achieved this record. Now Hardik’s name can also be included in this list.
Shakib Al Hasan has scored 2551 runs in 129 T20I matches and has taken 149 wickets. Mohammad Nabi has scored 2417 runs in 145 matches and has taken 104 wickets with the ball. Sikandar Raza has scored 2883 runs in 127 matches and has taken 102 wickets with the ball. These three players have performed brilliantly for their respective teams in T20 cricket.
Speaking of Hardik Pandya, if he takes just two wickets in the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack, or in the entire T20I series, he will reach 100 wickets in T20Is, becoming the second Indian bowler to achieve this milestone. So far, only Arshdeep Singh has taken 100 or more wickets in this format for India. Arshdeep has 105 wickets in T20Is, making him India’s leading wicket-taker in this format.