There have been debates cricket pundits do time and again to see the progress of Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev, as all-rounders. Today we take up the topic to see whether any such comparison is logical, in-place or too early to tell. While Kapil is among the most respected icon of Indian Cricket, Pandya is still spreading his wings into international fame. Today, let’s see where does a Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev debate takes us to:
Batting: Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev
Here we’ll see what stats say about the comparison. But before going into details, one must understand that Kapil Dev was a bowling all-rounder while Hardik Pandya looks similar in both his cricketing aspects. In Test cricket, while Kapil Dev scored over 5000 runs from 131 matches, Pandya is still to even play 50 matches. Yet, his one century puts him into the league of no. 5 or 6 in the batting order where the teams generally look for quickfire runs. Even Kapil belonged to this order.
| Test Batting | Hardik Pandya | Kapil Dev |
|---|---|---|
| Match | 11 | 131 |
| Innings | 18 | 184 |
| Runs | 532 | 5248 |
| HS | 108 | 163 |
| Avg | 31.29 | 31.05 |
| 100 | 1 | 8 |
| 50 | 4 | 27 |
In ODI Cricket, Hardik has played over 50 matches already and looks to be a utility cricketer more than a genuine all-rounder. He seems to be right in the league at the order he represents, if he goes like this he’ll reach the level of last two decent all-round ability cricketers Yuvraj Singh & Robin Singh.
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Reaching Kapil’s level looks distant for now as Kapil for the Strike Bowler while Pandya can, at best, be a regular first change bowler in favorable conditions. However, sky is the limit for anyone who decides to achieve. So, you never know he could be the balance Indian team has been searching for years.
| ODI Batting | Hardik Pandya | Kapil Dev |
|---|---|---|
| Match | 54 | 225 |
| Innings | 38 | 198 |
| Runs | 957 | 3783 |
| HS | 83 | 175* |
| Avg | 29.9 | 23.79 |
| SR | 115.5 | 95.07 |
| 100 | 1 | |
| 50 | 4 | 14 |
Both Kapil and Pandya have been the face of taking the attack to the opponents, when batting. Though, it looks tough for now, but let’s keep the hope running that Pandya progresses towards what Kapil was. That will make it interesting not only for India as a team, but also for us the debating community on Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev debate.
Bowling: Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev
If we see the strike rate of Pandya in Test Cricket, he looks impressive as a bowler given he has bowled more or less with an old ball compared to what Kapil had. No, not comparing the stats, just the ball condition. Kapil, has been a career of durability & fitness, while Pandya already had a break from cricket.
Read also: Individual & Partnership Runs at Prudential Cup 1983
Cricket of current era is fast, fitness and fielding are on their best level perhaps- so any cricketer is more prone to injuries that ever. Pandya playing those many test matches look distant so stat validation will take us nowhere. Yes, he’s coming off good, but he needs to continue like this for like 5-8 years to even be in the league.
| Test Bowling | Hardik Pandya | Kapil Dev |
|---|---|---|
| Match | 11 | 131 |
| Innings | 19 | 227 |
| Wickets | 17 | 434 |
| Best Bowling | 5/28 | 9/83 |
| Avg | 31.05 | 29.64 |
| Strike Rate | 55.1 | 63.9 |
| 4 wickets/Innings | – | 17 |
| 5 wickets/Innings | 1 | 23 |
| 10 wickets/Match | – | 2 |
In ODI Cricket, Pandya has more chances to reach towards the match numbers of Kapil Dev, but he has to be constantly picking up wickets to end anywhere closer to the best all-rounder India had. Kapil would more often come up with match-winning performances with bat & ball both or even alone, even at the adverse conditions. Pandya has shown spark, but he’ll have to deliver the promise he does as an all-rounder to be Utility Cricketer.
| ODI Bowling | Hardik Pandya | Kapil Dev |
|---|---|---|
| Match | 54 | 225 |
| Innings | 53 | 221 |
| Wickets | 54 | 253 |
| Best Bowling | 3/31 | 5/43 |
| Avg | 40.64 | 27.45 |
| Strike Rate | 43.8 | 44.2 |
| Economy Rate | 5.56 | 3.71 |
| 4 wickets/Innings | – | 3 |
| 5 wickets/Innings | – | 1 |
Overall: Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev
Kapil’s career had some striking achievements like “the best Indian All-rounder”, “Highest Individual scorer for India in Cricket World Cup (before Ganguly broke it in 1999)”, “Most test wickets for India (before Kumble broke it)”, to name a few. Pandya has way to go, should he continues to deliver the promise he comes up with. So, at present, Hardik Pandya vs Kapil Dev is a debate which is not even close. We, however, leave it to you to decide.
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