Varun Aaron explains two key aspects that set Hardik Pandya apart from other Indian batters

Former India fast bowler Varun Aaron has shed light on a couple of technical traits that, in his view, separate Hardik Pandya from the rest of the Indian batting line-up. Aaron pointed out that Pandya’s unique stance and body alignment allow him to generate exceptional power while retaining balance and control.

India are set to take on New Zealand in a five-match T20I series, with the opening fixture scheduled to be played in Nagpur on Wednesday, January 21. Pandya comes into the series in strong form, having delivered impactful performances for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, and will be keen to carry that momentum into international cricket. In his last international T20 assignment against the Proteas he scored 142 runs in three innings with an average of 71.00 and a strike rate of 186.84.

Aaron breaks down Hardik Pandya’s batting mechanics

Aaron was asked about Pandya’s batting technique, particularly his tendency to plant his back foot deep inside the crease during the recent T20I series against South Africa.

“That’s obviously something which sets him apart. Gives him that extra second to bring those fast hands through. The second thing that distinguishes him from all the other batters in this Indian team is his ability to do two things,” the former India pacer responded on the Star Sports show Game Plan

“One is, obviously, keep his bottom half really opened, which gives him a lot of power, the base goes really wide, and then he stays really side-on from his top half. With those two things, he gives himself a lot of hip and shoulder separation, which adds a lot of twisting power,” he added.

Aaron further noted that Pandya’s effectiveness is not limited to specific lines or lengths, making him a nightmare matchup for bowlers in the shortest format.

The all-rounder has scored 2002 runs across the span of 97 T20I innings, striking at a rate of 143.51. In the last year he made 302 runs in 12 innings in 2025 at a strike rate of 153.29.

In the same discussion, Aaron highlighted Pandya’s ability to access all areas of the field, irrespective of where the bowler pitches the ball.

“The other thing is that he can access deliveries through the off side, and, obviously, if you bowl straight to him, we know how dangerous he is. He doesn’t miss anything anywhere the bowler bowls. Obviously, short is something he is always going to target, but then he has time with those shoulders to just play these (wider) deliveries with ease as well,” Varun said.

The former India pacer also explained how Pandya’s stance can be deceptive from a bowler’s perspective, often creating the illusion that wider deliveries will be effective.

“As a bowler, when you look at a batter set up and somebody who has opened his foot so much, his left leg is almost on fifth leg stump, you would think that if I push it wide to him, he is going to miss it, but just because he stays so side-on with his top half, he is able to get his hands through and access the off side as well, which makes him very, very dangerous,” he observed.

With 106 sixes, Hardik Pandya currently has the fourth-highest number of maximums for India in T20Is. Only Rohit Sharma (205), Suryakumar Yadav (155) and Virat Kohli (124) have struck more sixes than him for India in the shortest format at the international level.