Hardik Pandya is one of the best cricketers in the world at the moment. He is one of the few players who can make an impact with the bat, the ball and also dive all around the ground to take some unbelievable catches. When Pandya got injured in 2021/22, many fans felt that he would never be the same player, but he worked hard and came back better than ever.
Fans witnessed a new side of Pandya in 2022. He came back as the Gujarat Titans captain and won the tournament. Soon after, Hardik Pandya captained India in T20is against West Indies and Ireland. He also led the team in an ODI against Australia in 2023.
Five other Indian cricketers made their debuts with Pandya in 2016, but those five players could not make it big like the Baroda-based all-rounder.
1. Pawan Negi debuted just after Hardik Pandya
Spin-bowling all-rounder Pawan Negi debuted in Asia Cup 2016. He played against UAE and bowled a spell of 1/16. Despite his decent performance, Negi never played another T20I for Team India.
2. Rishi Dhawan could have been another Hardik Pandya
Rishi Dhawan is a player with similar attributes as Pandya. Dhawan scored one run and bowled a spell of 1/42 against Zimbabwe on debut. He is yet to play his second T20I match.
3. Mandeep Singh
Mandeep Singh played three matches against Zimbabwe in 2016 and scored 87 runs, including a half-century. Still, Singh never got another Indian T20I cap.
4. Dhawal Kulkarni
Right-arm pacer Dhawal Kulkarni made his T20I debut in 2016 as well. He played two T20Is before the selectors gave up on him. It seems unlikely he will come back in the T20I team.
5. Barinder Sran
Another pace bowler to feature on this list is Barinder Sran. The left-arm fast bowler played two T20Is and picked up six wickets in 2016. However, the left-arm pacer was soon dropped from the squad.
