IND vs SA 2025: 'Didn’t feel like he was coming back from injury' - Irfan Pathan hails Hardik Pandya's match-defining knock

Published - 10 Dec 2025, 11:17 IST | Updated - 10 Dec 2025, 11:17 IST

Former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan has come out in full praise of Hardik Pandya performed in his comeback game for India. Hardik's unbeaten 28-ball 59-run knock propelled India to a competitive total of 175/6 in their 20 overs in the first T20I of the five-match series on December 9.

Irfan complimented how Hardik went after the South African spinners from the get-go. The erstwhile all-rounder praised the Men in Blue's ace all-rounder for being the difference between a substandard total and a score which ended to be more than competitive enough.

"The way Hardik Pandya batted, it didn’t feel like he was coming back from injury. He looked fully in form. He looked in control for 75-90% and played big shots against spinners straightaway. Pandya’s strength is he goes for the big shots if the length is full. He also batted with control against pace bowling that clocked beyond 150 and his innings was the difference," stated Irfan in a video on his YouTube channel.

Hardik's knock comprised six fours and four sixes. He attained his sixth T20I fifty in style and was the main reason India got to the score they did after being invited to bat first by Aiden Markram at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.

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No other Indian batter could score even half of what Hardik ended up with. Later,  the hosts were clinical with the ball, as they took a 1-0 lead, winning the contest by a massive 101-run margin. Hardik chipped in with the ball too, picking up the wicket of David Miller while conceding 16 runs in his two overs.

Hardik had sustained a left quadriceps injury during India's title-winning run at the Asia Cup a few months back. He was out from competitive cricket for a while and recently reperesented Baroda in the ongoing installment of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As the T20 World Cup comes round the corner, Hardik's form will be imperative for how India perform at the global event.