India’s stand-in skipper, Hardik Pandya was disappointed after India suffered a 16-run loss in the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka. One of the reasons was his gun T20I bowler Arshdeep Singh conceded runs like anything by bowling the most front-foot no-balls (5) in a T20I. India gave away 7 free hits on Thursday and bowled four more wides, allowing Sri Lanka to post 206 for six batting first. There was no end to India’s woes as they lost four wickets for just 34 – Hardik Pandya himself was out for 12 – in just 4.4 overs.
Deepak Hooda too fell for not too many as India was tottering at 57 for 5, still needing 150 runs off almost 11 overs at approximately 15 runs per over. Most sides would lose the match by a huge margin from this situation. But not India. In fact, they managed to make such a strong comeback that the chase was alive till the last over.
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It was all thanks to a stunning partnership between Axar Patel and Suryakumar Yadav. Axar came out all guns blazing and he even Suryakumar by some distance in the partnership. The asking rate, however, was still daunting and Sri Lanka was firmly in the driver’s seat till the 13th over.
Things would take a drastic turn in the next over. Axar hit a hat-trick of sixes off Wanindu Hasaranga and his partner Suryakumar smashed another one in the same over to set the cat among the pigeons. The crowd and the Indian dressing room got their voices back. The atmosphere stayed the same for the next two overs with both Axar and SKY going hammer and tongs.
Things appeared gloomy again when Suryakumar was dismissed after scoring 51 runs at the end of the 16th over. Just when the balance shifted heavily towards easy Sri Lanka once again, young Shivam Mavi hit a couple of sixes and a four off the last three balls of the 18th over to make India believe again.
Sri Lanka, however, held their nerves in the final two overs to close out the match but just before the match was officially over , captain Hardik Pandya was seen shaking hands with the Indian players and support staff. Normally players shake hands with teammates and opponents after the match is over.
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Photos of Hardik walking up to Jitesh Sharma, the fielding coach T Dilip, and Shubman Gill and shaking their hands one by one with the match still going on went viral. Although India had the slimmest of chances of winning the match from that situation, the fans were not happy to see the Indian captain starting post-match handshakes with the last ball of the match still remaining.
It's hardik Era, anything can happen in this era🤣💀
— Isha (@isha45___) January 6, 2023
https://twitter.com/CricketGirl45/status/1611055892296011777?s=20&t=E5qIt_u7U7JREukP1J7MAQ
This is called new era🤣
— mr.Satu45💙🇮🇳 (@Satu_45) January 5, 2023
He is oversmart..
— Aman@18 (@Amanmau24932807) January 5, 2023
