Some records feel impressive. Others feel improbable. Hardik Pandya’s latest T20I milestone belongs firmly in the second category.
In the third T20I at Dharamsala, with the wicket of Tristan Stubbs, Hardik Pandya quietly entered a space in T20 history that was never designed for players like him. What followed was not just another statistic, but a redefinition of what a fast bowling all-rounder can be in the shortest format.
A Milestone Built for Spinners
Hardik Pandya became the first fast bowling all-rounder in the world to complete 100 wickets and 1000 runs in T20 internationals. Before him, only three players had achieved this double milestone, and all three were spinners: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi, and Sikandar Raza.
That detail matters. T20 cricket has traditionally allowed spinners more control and more opportunities to contribute consistently with both bat and ball. For a fast bowler, managing workload, pace, and longevity in this format makes such numbers extremely difficult to accumulate. Hardik did it anyway.
The Rare Triple That Sets Him Apart
The night became even more special when Hardik added another layer to his achievement. He became the first Indian ever to complete a rare T20I triple of 100 wickets, 1000 runs, and 100 sixes.
Globally, only Sikandar Raza, Mohammad Nabi, and Virandeep Singh had reached this milestone before. Hardik is now part of that exclusive group, but with a crucial difference: he is the only fast bowler among them.
Why This Changes the Conversation Around Hardik
Hardik Pandya has often been judged in phases, sometimes for form, sometimes for fitness, and sometimes for leadership. But milestones like these cut through noise and opinion. They tell a simple story of sustained impact across years, roles, and conditions. They underline his value not as a moment player, but as a complete T20 cricketer.
Fast bowlers are not supposed to last like this in T20s. All-rounders are not supposed to dominate both disciplines at this level for so long. Hardik Pandya did both.
And that is what makes this achievement not just rare, but genuinely historic.
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