Though he made a generally unimpressive show in the IPL that was held before T20 World Cup 2024. Hardik Pandya demonstrated his utility as an all-rounder in the practice match with Bangladesh and then exhibited good flooder skill during the match against Ireland in India’s opening T20 World Cup match.
Although Pakistan did well by restricting India to 140, it was crucial for India to get some of those big hitters to fire, and more particularly, Pandya, who only managed 12 runs on 7 balls.
Crucial Dismissal in the 18th Over
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During the eighth twenty-twenty match of the series, when the Indian side was struggling at seven wickets down. Hardik Pandya was made to continue until the end of the Indian innings. Defending a length delivery bowled by Haris Rauf, Hardik Pandya tried to play a flick toward the middle.
He looked to find one between his wrists to send it over the boundary, but his timing was not bad enough to hit enough power behind it. Suryakumar Yadav. Who had just come in to bat, was dismissed when Iftikhar Ahmed took a good running catch to his left at deep squar e leg off Hardik Pandya.
Also read: Babar Azam Reflects on Costly And Poor Dot Balls in Pakistan’s Defeat Against India
Hardik Pandya Comparison with Rohit’s Early Success
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Interestingly, Rohit Sharma had pulled off the same shot for a maximum in the very first over of the match against Shaheen Afridi. However, Hardik Pandya could not repeat the same feat, which further served all that pressure and inconsistency that was otherwise visible in India’s batting lineup.
After the wicket of Hardik Pandya, Bumrah also could not score and got dismissed on the very next delivery, making it a poor total of 119 on the board for India. Rishabh Pant was the highlight of the inning, as he scored abundantly at a strike rate of 42 off 21 balls. Save for Pant, only Rohit Sharma and Axar Patel got to post figures in double figures, but the Indian batsmen failed woefully on a wicket that offered early assistance to the pacemen.
Also read: Hardik Pandya’s Crucial Strikes Lead India to Memorable Win Over Pakistan
Pakistan’s bowling dominance
In Pakistan’s potent bowling line-up, pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf were the pick of the bowlers, bagging three wickets each. Amir took two top-order wickets for 22, and Shaheen Afridi dismissed Indian cornerstone Rohit Sharma, who also missed the boundary by a whisker while playing a flick shot.
Hardik Pandya’s inability to convey with the bat in a pivotal moment and India’s general batting lineup highlighted the difficulties faced by the team in a high-pressure match against their most despised rivals.
Also read: Virat Kohli’s Early Dismissal: Anushka Sharma’s Impenetrable And Sorrow Reaction
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