Hardik Pandya enjoys 'special' contribution in series win against England

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has come a long way since his back surgery in 2019, reinforcing his position as the premier white-ball cricketer in the Indian team.

Having spent a majority of the past two seasons either on the sidelines or playing just as a batsman, Pandya regained full fitness during the IPL earlier this year, guiding new franchise Gujarat Titans to the title and has not looked back since.

Timely contributions with bat and ball in the white-ball tour of England have made Pandya the No 1 limited overs cricketer in the Indian squad once again, with his fitness and workload being the only possible stumbling blocks heading into the T20 World Cup.

In the third one-dayer against England in Manchester on Sunday, Pandya was at his best as he took an ODI best 4-24 to dismiss the hosts for 259 in the absence of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah.

Then in the chase, the 28-year-old smashed 71 off just 55 balls and shared a decisive partnership of 133 in 19 overs with Rishabh Pant (125 not out) after the tourists had collapsed to 72-4 in the face of another fine new-ball spell by Reece Topley.

A special innings seals the series for India in Manchester