Past India fast bowler Come on Aaron provided a detailed technical insight into what it consists of Hardik Pandya Unique batting power in India’s T20I setup. Speaking ahead of the five-match T20I series between India and New ZealandAaron pointed to two specific biomechanical aspects that allow Pandya to generate explosive power without compromising balance or control.
Varun Aaron names the technical characteristics that make Hardik Pandya a unique player
India and New Zealand are set to enter the series with Pandya in impressive touch in the opening T20I in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. Aaron, while analyzing Pandya’s batting during India’s recent T20I outings, noted the all-rounder’s tendency to plant his back foot inside the crease – a trait that immediately caught the former pacer’s attention.
According to Aaron, this placement gives Pandya extra time against pace bowling and allows his hands to move through the strike zone quicker than most batsmen. He explained that this split is often crucial in T20 cricket, where reaction time and bat speed can determine the outcome of an innings.
“That’s obviously what sets him apart. It gives him an extra second to bring those quick hands. The second thing that sets him apart from all the other batsmen in this Indian team is his ability to do two things,” Aaron said on Star Sports.
Aaron further elaborated on what he believes really separates Pandya from other Indian batsmen. He highlighted Pandya’s ability to keep his lower body open while staying on the side until the upper half – a rare combination in modern batting. This contrast between the lower and upper half of the body creates a significant separation of the hips and shoulders. Aaron explained that such an adaptation creates a twisting action, adding significant power to Pandya’s strokes without throwing him off balance. A wide base, coupled with a strong on-base mark, allows Pandya to hit both length and hard length deliveries with authority, even with high-quality fast bowling.
“One, obviously, is to keep the bottom half really open, which gives it a lot of power, the base is really wide, and then it’s really lateral from the top half. With those two things, it gives itself a lot of hip and shoulder separation, which adds a lot of twisting power,” Aaron added.
Form and confidence ahead of New Zealand series
Pandya’s confidence is boosted by his strong domestic form for Baroda Vijay Hazare trophywhere he delivered some impressive performances. That momentum followed him into international cricket during India’s recent T20I series against South Africa, where he scored 142 runs in three innings at an average of 71.00 and a strike rate of 186.84. Such numbers highlight the effectiveness of the technical characteristics Aaron describes, especially in high-pressure situations against quality opposition.
During his T20I career, Pandya scored 2,002 runs in 97 overs at a strike rate of 143.51 and established himself as one of India’s most reliable finishers. In the calendar year 2025 alone, he amassed 302 runs at a strike rate of 153.29 in 12 overs, cementing his growing influence in the shortest format.
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