MUMBAI: Former India cricket manager Lalchand Rajput feels Hardik Pandya is the "ideal all-rounder" that the national team has been aspiring since the departure of legendary Kapil Dev "Hardik Pandya is an exceptional cricketer. The talent he has got, I have seen him at the NCA ( National Cricket Academy ) and then he was with me at the Zonal Camp (ZCA). He is an ideal all-rounder after Kapil Dev," Rajput said during an interaction here on Tuesday.The 23-year-old Pandya played a crucial knock in the first ODI against Australia in Chennai, which eventually helped India to win the ODI by 26 runs via Duckworth Lewis method. Earlier, people used to say he is good in shorter version, but in a Test match also he can turn the game. He has the ingredients to be the next Kapil Dev.

Source: Times of India September 19, 2017 12:56 UTC