Hardik Pandya's journey: Reckless to priceless

Improved fitness has helped Pandya bowl at sharp pace and new-found ability to mentor a precocious talent like Pant during a tricky chase adds to his CVThroughout the first few years of his international career, Hardik Pandya was unfairly compared to legendary allrounder Kapil Dev. However, even India's World Cup-winning captain would be proud of what Pandya achieved with the bat and ball to play a massive role in the magnificent five-wicket win over World Champions England in the final ODI at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Realizing that he needed to step up as the fourth medium-pacer/fifth bowler after India lost their No 1 pacer Jasprit Bumrah to back spasms, Pandya, exploiting the bounce on the rock-hard surface, made the short ball his 'WMD', returning career-best figures of 7-3-24-4, with a first spell that read 4-2-2-2. This, by far, was his best spell with the white ball for India. Batting at No 6, he then rescued India from a certain defeat, guiding the younger Rishabh Pant throughout their match-swinging 133-run fifth wicket partnership, while blazing his way to a glorious 55-ball 71.

Read AlsoIndia vs England, 3rd ODI: Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya power India to series victory against England

Rishabh Pant's unbeaten 125 and Hardik Pandya's superb all-round display helped India seal a five wicket victory over England in the third and final one-day international at Old Trafford on Sunday and complete a 2-1 series victory. Pandya joined a rare group of five players who've taken four wickets

'Was in shock when MI didn't retain him'Pandya has been a different player ever since MI preferred to release him ahead of IPL 15 mega auction earlier this year. Determined to prove his worth, the Baroda man has just taken in his kit