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Hardik Pandya Eyes Elite 2000-Run, 100-Wicket ODI Club vs New Zealand

The upcoming India-New Zealand ODI series presents a major milestone opportunity for all-rounder Hardik Pandya. He stands just 96 runs short of 2,000 ODI runs and 9 wickets away from 100 ODI wickets. Achieving this double would place him among an elite group of all-rounders, making him only the seventh Indian to do so. This feat would link him with cricketing icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and international greats such as Jacques Kallis and Viv Richards.

Key Points: Hardik Pandya Nears Elite All-Rounder Milestone in NZ ODIs

  • Needs 96 runs for 2000 ODI runs
  • Needs 9 wickets for 100 ODI wickets
  • Would be 7th Indian to achieve the double
  • Joins legends like Tendulkar, Kapil, Kallis
2 min read

Hardik Pandya could join elite list including Sachin, Viv, Jayasuriya, Kallis during NZ ODIs

Hardik Pandya is 96 runs and 9 wickets away from joining legends like Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, and Kallis in the 2000-run, 100-wicket ODI club.

"He will join an elite group of Indian cricketers... as the seventh Indian to achieve this double. - ANI Report"

Vadodara, January 11

The India-New Zealand ODI series starting from Sunday promises to be a special one for India's pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who could join an elite club featuring icons like Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Kapil Dev, Sanath Jayasuriya, Viv Richards, Jacques Kallis among others as a rare breed of ODI players with 2,000 runs and 100 wickets.

India will resume its mission '2027 World Cup' with these ODIs against Kiwis and Hardik, a rare commodity with his flashy batting and 10 overs of quality pace, is all set to be in the thick of action and for plenty of records too.

Currently in 94 ODIs and 68 innings, Hardik has scored 1,904 runs at an average of 32.82, with a strike rate of almost 111, with 11 fifties to his name, with a best score of 92*. He needs 96 more runs to touch the 2,000 ODI-run mark.

Also, in his ODI career, Hardik has taken 91 wickets at an average of 35.50, with best figures of 4/24. He stands just nine wickets away from a century of wickets.

If he completes this double, he will join an elite group of Indian cricketers like Sachin (18,426 runs and 154 wickets), Ganguly (11,363 runs and 100 wickets), Yuvraj (8,701 runs and 111 wickets), Kapil (3,783 runs and 253 wickets), Ravi Shastri (3,108 runs and 109 wickets), Ravindra Jadeja (2,862 runs and 232 wickets) as the seventh Indian to achieve this double, which is also achieved by Sri Lanka's Jayasuriya, West Indies' icon Viv Richards, Australian legends Shane Watson and Andrew Symonds, South African stars Shaun Pollock, Lance Klusner, Kallis, England icons Ian Botham and Andrew Flintoff among several others.

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill(c), Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Washington Sundar, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ravindra Jadeja

New Zealand Squad: Devon Conway(w), Will Young, Henry Nicholls, Daryl Mitchell, Glenn Phillips, Michael Bracewell(c), Zakary Foulkes, Nick Kelly, Josh Clarkson, Michael Rae, Kyle Jamieson, Mitchell Hay, Adithya Ashok, Kristian Clarke, Jayden Lennox. (ANI).

- ANI

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
As a cricket fan living abroad, it's amazing to see an all-rounder like Hardik. The company he's about to join—Kallis, Richards, Jayasuriya—is the absolute elite. His strike rate of 111 is phenomenal for a bowler who can bat.
V
Vikram M
Let's be honest, his bowling average of 35.50 is a bit on the higher side. He's a match-winner on his day, but for a true all-rounder great, he needs to bring that bowling average down. Still, achieving this double will be a huge milestone.
P
Priya S
So proud! He's the kind of player we've been missing since Kapil Paaji. A genuine fast-bowling all-rounder is worth his weight in gold. Hope he stays fit for the 2027 WC mission. All the best, Hardik! 💪
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Rohit P
The squad looks strong, but where is Bumrah? Resting him is fine, but we need our best for the World Cup build-up. Anyway, focus on Hardik - 96 runs and 9 wickets to go. He can do it in 2 matches if he fires.
K
Kavya N
It's not just about the numbers. His attitude and the fear he puts in bowlers when he comes out to bat is what makes him special. That 92* against Australia comes to mind. Hope he gets his maiden ODI hundred soon too!

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