Twitter Reactions to Hardik Pandya's maiden five-wicket haul

The Big Picture

After enduring scathing criticism from cricket fans and pundits alike, India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya silenced his critics with a mesmerizing spell of seam and swing bowling to claim his maiden five-wicket-haul of his career and nip hosts England in the bud, skittling them out for a poultry 161 in response to India’s 329.

There have been seeing questions regarding Pandya’s role as an all-rounder with many pundits including former West Indian fast bowler Michael Holding.

“The [Indian] attack has not been the right balance. Apparently, they are playing Hardik Pandya as an all-rounder to help out with the bowling. When he bowls he isn’t as effective as he should be.

If he was a good batsman, if he was getting runs – 60s, 70s, not even regular hundreds – at the number at which he bats and then he bowls and gets two or three wickets, happy, hallelujah. Happy with that. But he is not getting the number of runs that can then allow him to get a wicket or two in the Test match. That doesn’t work.”

Talking about Pandya’s pedigree as a Test bowler, Holding stated “I don’t think he does a lot with the ball. That is number one. He is not consistent. He does not have the control that puts batsmen under pressure constantly.”

But, on day 02, Pandya- the bowler stood up and with his menacing outswingers nipped out Root, Bairstow, Broad, Woakes and Rashid to register the second fastest five-wicket haul (29 balls).

Here’s how Twitter reacted to Pandya’s maiden five-for:-

1st Indian to get 5 catches on debut. Pant has been flying and Pandya is giving him reason to fly with his best spell as a test match bowler.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2018

Five wickets for Pandya. And I was advocating for his exclusion for a frontline batsman. Ouch. ???? #EngvInd

— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) August 19, 2018

Fewest Tests taken for both a hundred & a five-for
(for India)
3 R Ashwin
4 Lala Amarnath
6 Vinoo Mankad
7 Dattu Phadkar
10 Salim Durani
10 Kapil Dev
10 HARDIK PANDYA#ENGvIND

— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) August 19, 2018

This is as good a spell of seam bowling as you will see. And the catching from KL Rahul has been something to savour. Pandya is giving his captain tremendous support with the ball.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 19, 2018

✋ wickets!!!

You keep getting better day by day and I keep running out of words to praise you day by day. Well done, Bhai!!! @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/fLErK1pCm3

— Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) August 19, 2018

Hardik Pandya is first fast bowler from India to take a 5-wicket haul in Tests after coming to bowl as third change or later. #EngvInd

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 19, 2018

Michale holding to Hardik pandya right now #ENGVIND pic.twitter.com/ZvESWqm3fl

— Raghav Masoom (@comedibanda) August 19, 2018

https://twitter.com/hankypanty/status/1031204921163567105

As if some kind of divine punishment, Michael Holding is being made to sit through and shower praises at this breathtaking spell of bowling by Hardik Pandya, the guy Holding dismissed as an IPL show pony.

— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) August 19, 2018

Michael Holding questions 'allrounder' Hardik Pandya's selection in Tests #ENGvIND pic.twitter.com/I4mGXxFUAL

— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 16, 2018