Hardik Pandya’s sensational comeback to international cricket has set the stage for a potential landmark moment as India gear up for the first-ever T20I at the Maharaja Yadavindra Singh International Cricket Stadium in Mullanpur on December 11. After being sidelined since September 26, 2025, due to injury, the 32-year-old star all-rounder returned in dominant fashion during the opening match of the series against South Africa. His unbeaten 59 from just 28 deliveries, laced with six fours and four towering sixes, coupled with a tight spell of 1/16 in two overs, powered India to a massive 101-run win and earned him the Player of the Match award. Now, as the series moves forward, Pandya stands on the brink of creating T20I history.
One wicket away from joining India’s elite
When India take the field in Mullanpur for the second T20I, Pandya will have the opportunity to reach a milestone that only two Indians have achieved so far. Should he claim even a single dismissal, he will become the third Indian bowler after Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah to complete 100 wickets in T20 Internationals.
Pandya, who made his T20I debut against Australia in January 2016, has represented India in 121 matches and taken 99 wickets so far, maintaining an economy rate of 8.22 with best figures of 4/16. The landmark is not merely statistical; it underscores his long-standing value as one of India’s finest all-rounders in the shortest format.
Among Indian bowlers, Arshdeep Singh currently leads the wicket charts with 107 scalps in 69 matches, followed by Jasprit Bumrah with 101 from 81 matches. Hardik stands next on the list, making the upcoming contest even more significant.
A rare global achievement within reach
But Pandya is not only chasing Indian records. The Baroda cricketer is on the verge of joining an exclusive global group in T20I cricket. A single wicket on Thursday will make him the first Indian ever to complete the extraordinary double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in the format — a landmark only four players in the world have reached till date.
These include Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, Afghanistan’s Mohammad Nabi, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza and Malaysia’s Virandeep Singh. All four have been celebrated globally for their all-round brilliance, and Pandya’s entry into this club will cement his status among modern cricket’s most impactful multi-skilled players.
Shakib has 2551 runs and 149 wickets from 129 matches, Nabi 2417 runs and 104 wickets from 145 matches, Raza 2883 runs and 102 wickets from 127 matches, while Virandeep leads the runs tally with 3115 and 107 wickets from 109 outings. Pandya is poised to become India’s first addition to this elite list.
The rarest milestone: 1000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 sixes
Beyond the double, Pandya also has a shot at achieving an even more exclusive feat — the 1000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 sixes combination in T20Is. If he completes his 100th wicket in the second T20I, he will become the first Indian and only the fourth cricketer globally to accomplish this all-round triple.
Among the current global list-makers, Mohammad Nabi, Sikandar Raza and Virandeep Singh have smashed more than 100 sixes in their careers, but Shakib fell short, finishing with 53 maximums. Pandya’s naturally aggressive batting style has ensured that he already has the six-hitting credentials required for this extremely rare achievement.
India banking on Hardik’s resurgence
India’s comprehensive win in Cuttack showcased not only Pandya’s dominance but also the team’s growing balance as they prepare for the 2026 season of international cricket. The Mullanpur encounter, being the first T20I ever hosted at the venue, presents the ideal platform for Hardik to script history.
The team management will hope that his return also stabilises India’s lower middle order — a concern in recent months — while his role as a seam-bowling all-rounder provides invaluable flexibility in the powerplay and death overs.
With Hardik now fully fit, confident, and in prime hitting form, India enter the second match with both momentum and the added motivation of witnessing a landmark that could redefine his legacy in the T20I format.
Conclusion
Hardik Pandya’s comeback has breathed new life into India’s T20I set-up, and the second match in Mullanpur could turn out to be a historic chapter in his career. On the cusp of a rare global milestone and poised to become India’s top-performing all-rounder in the shortest format, Pandya is not just chasing numbers — he is reaffirming his status as one of India’s most impactful modern cricketers. All eyes will be on the star all-rounder as he inches closer to history.