After a match-defining knock against Pakistan, the and on social media once again went berserk and lauded the flamboyant Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya for his all-around performance in India’s win over the arch-rivals. Pandya first took three crucial wickets of Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Khusdil Shah and later played a match-winning knock of 33* off 17 deliveries to help India beat the men in green by 5 wickets.
Hardik showed tremendous self-confidence under immense pressure in the slog overs and hit the match-winning six to take India over the line in the final over of the match. His six reminded the Indians how MS Dhoni used to finish matches with a six in style during his time. Hardik even revealed that he has learned a lot from the former India captain on how to finish the games.
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Talking about the same while speaking to host broadcaster Star Sports after the match, Hardik Pandya said, “I have learned a lot from my MS Dhoni bhai as a finisher and how to finish the games. I just try to keep calm and try to assess the situation.”
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With Dinesh Karthik given the role of a premium finisher, it was expected of him to score crucial runs in the final overs of the match. However, when India needed 7 runs in the final over of the match, Karthik took a single and gave the strike to Pandya.
On the third delivery, Pandya made room for himself and played a cover drive but could not beat the extra cover fielder. Even when a run was possible, the 28-year-old denied and retained the strike. On the next ball, Hardik Pandya nonchalantly smashed a six over long-on and finished the game.
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“It’s important to assess the situation and use your weapons,” Pandya says. “The hard lengths particularly. But you have to use them wisely. When it comes to batting, the chances I take when executing, I’m likelier to pull it off when I’m calmer. I knew they had Nawaz waiting to bowl, and while we needed 7, even if we needed 15 I would have fancied by chance,” Pandya said after the match.
