The Indian team continues to show remarkable strength and resilience in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024, with Hardik Pandya emerging as one of their standout performers. Despite a less-than-stellar Indian Premier League (IPL) season, Pandya has found his form at the perfect moment, delivering crucial performances for the Men in Blue.
Heading into the IPL 2024, Pandya faced significant backlash from fans of Rohit Sharma after replacing him as the captain of the Mumbai Indians. The transition was rocky, with Pandya facing boos from fans at multiple venues. His struggles as both an all-rounder and captain contributed to Mumbai Indians’ dismal performance, as they finished at the bottom of the points table.
This led to widespread concerns about his inclusion in the Indian squad for the T20 World Cup. However, the Indian selectors placed their trust in Pandya, naming him as Rohit Sharma’s deputy for the marquee event. This decision is proving to be wise, as the 30-year-old is repaying their faith with vital contributions both with the bat and ball.
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Hardik Pandya scored a match-winning half-century against Bangladesh, and he aims to maintain his stellar form in the high-stakes match against Australia on June 24. In a candid video shared by Star Sports, Pandya spoke about the art of finishing in cricket, drawing an interesting analogy with culinary presentation.
Why is a strong finish crucial while batting in the death overs? Hardik Pandya explains! 🤩💥
Will he repeat his heroics from the last game for #TeamIndia as they take on Australia, who face elimination with a loss? 🧐
Don’t miss the #𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐑𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐫𝐲 👉 #AUSvIND |… pic.twitter.com/XSFzGJQXMG
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) June 24, 2024
“The most important part is the art of finishing. If you go to a fancy restaurant, the taste might be amazing, but without the finishing touch, the dish loses its charm. I think finishing a game is similar. No matter how well you’ve poised the game, if you don’t get that finishing touch from your lower order or finishers, the game doesn’t feel complete,” Hardik Pandya explained.
He further elaborated, “There are times when the dish itself isn’t prepared perfectly, but a great finishing touch can make up for it. The same goes for cricket.”
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Pandya’s statistics in the T20 World Cup 2024 reflect his significant impact. He has batted three times in five games, scoring 89 runs at an average of 44.50 and a strike rate of 141.27. With the ball, he has taken eight wickets at an impressive average of 13.75 and an economy rate of 6.47. His all-around performance has been a key factor in India’s successful campaign so far, and he will be looking to continue this form as the tournament progresses.
