India and South Africa are locking horns with each other in the fourth game of the five-match ODI series at the Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. South Africa’s Tabraiz Shamsi was seen tying shoelaces of Hardik Pandya right after the all-rounder smacked him back-to-back sixes.
Earlier, after winning the toss, the visiting skipper, Temba Bavuma won the toss and decided to bowl first because of the unpredictability of the conditions. While the Indian skipper, Rishabh Pant made no changes to the winning combination, the Proteas had three changes as Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Reeza Hendricks made way for Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock, and Lungi Ngidi.
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India didn’t witness a great start as the opener, Ruturaj Gaikwad couldn’t carry over his form from the previous knock and was dismissed early by Lungi Ngidi in the second over, Iyer came in to bat at No.3 and Marco Jansen got the better of Iyer in the very next ball, courtesy of an excellent review. With the wicket of Ishan Kishan, India was reeling at 40/3.
Even Rishabh Pant got out soon and the men in blue were at 89/4 at the end of 14 overs. Hardik Pandya was on the crease by the time of writing, batting on 32 off 24 balls, alongside Dinesh Karthik, who was yet to get off the mark. The 12th over of India’s innings, bowled by Tabraiz Shamsi, was an entertaining over for the Rajkot spectators after a quiet start by the hosts.
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Hardik Pandya smacked Shamsi two sixes off back-to-back deliveries, both over the mid-wicket boundary. But then, when Hardik took a single off the last ball of that over, he was seen stretching his legs while his shoelaces were undone. Tabraiz Shamsi had no hesitation in tying them, and a smile was exchanged between the two. It was a light-heartening moment between the two, who are considered their respective sides’ integral members.
Here is the video of the sixes smashed by Hardik Pandya:
Here is how teh fans reacted:
Hardik Pandya Ignite the crowd with two huge sixes of Shamsi , India 79/3 off 12.2 overs pic.twitter.com/AlUVoBNwtB
— CRICKETBITTS (@cricketbitts) June 17, 2022
2 back to back sixes from Hardik !! 😎🇮🇳🔥#INDvSA pic.twitter.com/se7coJBCmG
— 🦋 Mee23 🙂 🦋 (@mee23_1) June 17, 2022
Tough time for Rishabh pant🥲🥺
But don't worry we r with u♥️
Agr accha samay nhi rha toh bura samay kyu rhega
Eyes on hardik and KarthikIndia jitega🎊🎉#INDvsSA #RishabhPant #T20 #HardikPandya #dineshkarthik
— Rishu (@Rishu202006) June 17, 2022
First six by hardik was classy.
— Vaibhav yadav (@yadav_bandhu_3) June 17, 2022
Uff what a six, Hardik!! 😍🔥
— Sejal 🏏 (@sejal_mokal) June 17, 2022
The Hardik Pandya bottom hand™️
Saw the bat speed he generates while hitting this particular shot anywhere between the long on and deep mid-wicket in the training and the first T20I itself. Not just the technique but the core muscles coming into play, JEEZ!#INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/Quy2GLuy1P
— Rahul Pandey (@sportstoryguy) June 17, 2022
Hardik pandya Supremacy
— Banna. (@iJaideep_) June 17, 2022
