Hardik Pandya provided Team India with an important breakthrough in the 13th over of the match against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Saturday. Pakistani opener Imam ul Haq was going great guns as he found boundaries with ease and helped the visitors get off to a formidable start against the home team.
In the second delivery of the 12th over, Pandya bowled a half volley that was slashed away for a boundary by Imam. The all-rounder took a breather before the next one, and pitched it just outside the off stump angling away from the batter.
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Imam went for a drive but the ball took an edge off his bat and headed to wicketkeeper KL Rahul. Pandya broke into an animated celebration, signaling goodbye, to send the opener back in the pavilion.
Here is the video of the dismissal of Imam ul Haq:
Mantra from Hardik Pandya to the ball.
Next ball, Imam Ul Haq was dismissed. pic.twitter.com/n49dGtDOx9
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 14, 2023
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Bye, bye – Imam Ul Haq…!!!
Thank you for coming, says Hardik Pandya. pic.twitter.com/KBenNA82po
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) October 14, 2023
India followed that with Ravindra Jadeja nearly trapping Muhammad Rizwan in front of stumps in the very next over. Rizwan reviewed and the umpire was asked to overturn the decision, but it possibly indicated of a sign of things to expect from Jadeja in his rest of the spell.
Meanwhile, Pakistan skipper Babar Azam expressed that the momentum of his team is on a high after the team recorded consecutive victories to start their ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023 campaign. Speaking at the toss of the match against India, Azam revealed that they will go in with an unchanged XI at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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“We also wanted to bowl first,” the star batter said, after Indian captain Rohit Sharma opted to bowl first in this encounter. Azam added, “We have had good two wins, momentum and confidence is high. Jam-packed stadium, we will enjoy it. We want to be good in the field, we had a couple of good practice sessions. Same team for us.”
