Indian legendary all-rounder Hardik Pandya is one of the finest T20 cricketers of his generation. Batsman Pandya has 2000+ runs in T20 Internationals, while the bowler also has 100+ wickets to his name, and now it is time for fielder Pandya to raise the stakes.
Over the past decade, India have become an almost unstoppable dominant force in the shortest format of the game and have produced some modern superstars in the format. India’s Hardik Pandya is one such cricketer.
Hardik Pandya made his debut for India in the shortest format of the game in 2016. He made his debut in the game against Australia in Adelaide and became an indispensable part of the T20I team. However, injuries have limited his playing time for India.
Hardik Pandya closes to Rohit Sharma’s big T20I record
The Indian all-rounder has played 134 international T20I matches for India in the shortest format of the game. This is the most matches he has played for India so far in all three formats. A master of his format, Pandya is known not only as an explosive batsman and a useful fast bowler but also as a brilliant fielder.
Former Indian captain Rohit Sharma retired in 2024, bringing an end to his illustrious T20 career. In 159 matches for India in the shortest format, he took a total of 65 catches, the most by an Indian fielder in T20Is.
Rohit often fielded in the 30-yard circle and was considered one of the safest fielders throughout his career, especially during his younger days, when he was considered one of the fastest fielders for India. Pandya is now on the verge of overtaking the former captain in the list of most catches for India in T20Is.
Most catches in T20Is for India:
1. Rohit Sharma- 65
2. Hardik Pandya – 64*
3. Suryakumar Yadav – 57*
4. Virat Kohli – 54
5. Suresh Raina- 42
Hardik Pandya is two catches away from breaking Rohit Sharma’s record. pic.twitter.com/mSXkuHp4de
– ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) 25 February 2026
Rinku Singh and Tilka Verma – ‘Ball Magnet’ for India on the field
Most of the names included in the above list, are either former players who had illustrious careers for India or current players who have been playing for the Men in Blue for a long time. But two names do not fall in any of these categories.
Rinku Singh and Tilak Verma are two young cricketers who made their debut for India in 2023 and both have played 45 matches for the Men in Blue and are already on the list. This proves his excellence on the field.
Both of them have been absolute ‘ball magnets’ for India, especially Rinku Singh, who can often be seen covering almost the entire perimeter of the field on his own. Ever since MS Dhoni started the policy of ‘fielders win matches’, India has been selecting players with the best fielding skills.
Hardik Pandya’s T20 stats
All-rounder Hardik Pandya has played 134 T20 matches. In those games, he came out to bat on 105 occasions and scored 2176 runs at an average of 27.89 and a strike rate of around 144.80. He has 8 half-centuries to his name.
With the ball in hand, Pandya took a total of 110 wickets as he became the third player for India to take 100+ wickets in the T20I format. On the field, he has taken 64 catches, including some of his most acrobatic fielding efforts in the last few years.
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