Hardik Pandya has joined a very exclusive club of T20I all-rounders by reaching a rare double of 1,000 runs and 100 wickets. What makes this achievement even more special is that he is the first fast-bowling all-rounder in history to do it.

Historic milestone in Dharamsala

Hardik Pandya reached the 100-wicket mark during India’s third T20I against South Africa in Dharamsala on December 14, 2025. He came into the match on 99 wickets and 1,939 runs in T20Is, needing just one more scalp to complete the double. He got it in his very first over when he dismissed Tristan Stubbs, becoming the first Indian to achieve 1,000 runs and 100 wickets in T20I cricket.

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Pandya bowled an economical spell of 1 for 23 in three overs, taking his tally to exactly 100 wickets in 123 T20I matches at an average of 26.78. He has three four-wicket hauls in the format, with his best figures being 4 for 16. With the bat, Pandya has scored over 1,930 runs at an average above 28, with six fifties and a strike rate of over 142.

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First fast-bowling all-rounder to do it

Before Hardik, only four other players in men’s T20I history had achieved the 1,000 runs and 100 wickets double: Shakib Al Hasan (Bangladesh), Mohammad Nabi (Afghanistan), Sikandar Raza (Zimbabwe), and Virandeep Singh (Malaysia). But all of them are spinners. Hardik Pandya is the first fast-bowling all-rounder to reach this landmark, making his feat even more unique.

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His ability to bowl with pace, pick up wickets in the powerplay and death overs, and also smash big runs in the lower middle order has made him one of the most valuable T20 players in the world. This milestone puts him in a class of his own among pace-bowling all-rounders.

Third Indian to 100 T20I wickets

With this achievement, Hardik also became the third Indian bowler to complete 100 wickets in T20Is, following Arshdeep Singh (109 wickets) and Jasprit Bumrah (101 wickets). Arshdeep was the first Indian to reach the landmark in September 2025, Bumrah joined him earlier in December, and now Pandya has made it three.

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Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan holds the overall record for most T20I wickets with 182 dismissals in 108 matches. But among all-rounders who contribute heavily with both bat and ball, Pandya’s numbers are exceptional.

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Triple milestone: runs, wickets, and sixes

Hardik has also achieved another rare triple in T20I cricket: 1,000-plus runs, 100-plus wickets, and 100-plus sixes. He recently reached his 100th six for India during an explosive unbeaten 59 off 28 balls in the first T20I of this series. This makes him only the fourth player in the world to achieve this trifecta, alongside Raza, Nabi, and Virandeep Singh.

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For India, having a player who can clear the boundary regularly, pick up crucial wickets, and change games single-handedly is a massive advantage, especially heading into the T20 World Cup 2026.

India win third T20I to take 2-1 lead

India comfortably beat South Africa by seven wickets in the third T20I in Dharamsala. Chasing a small target of 118, India got off to a fast start thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s quick 35 off 18 balls. The middle order slowed things down a bit, with Shubman Gill making a run-a-ball 28 and Tilak Varma scoring an unbeaten 25 off 34 balls at No. 3.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav had another disappointing outing, making just 12 off 11 balls before being caught at deep fine-leg. Shivam Dube finished the match in style with an unbeaten 10 off four balls, hitting a six and a four off Ottneil Baartman to seal the win. India now lead the five-match series 2-1, with two games to play.