During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, India all-rounder Vijay Shankar showcased his explosive batting prowess in a thrilling encounter between Tamil Nadu and Baroda at the Holkar Stadium, Indore. Shankar delivered a sensational performance, particularly targeting Baroda captain Hardik Pandya, with massive hits that left the crowd and cricket fans in awe. His remarkable innings ensured Tamil Nadu posted a formidable total in the first innings.
Vijay Shankar scored a blistering 42 runs off just 22 balls, propelling Tamil Nadu to a competitive 221/6. The highlight of the match was Shankar’s devastating assault on Hardik Pandya, where he smashed three colossal sixes in four deliveries. In a viral clip circulating on social media, Shankar launched the first six over long-on, followed it with a clean strike over long-off, and concluded the over with another towering shot straight down the ground.
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The stunning display of power hitting underscored Shankar’s ability to dominate high-profile bowlers under pressure. Tamil Nadu’s strong batting effort was a collective display. Openers Baba Indrajith (25 off 14) and Narayan Jagadeesan (57 off 32) provided a solid foundation. Contributions from Boopathi Kumar (28 off 16) and Shahrukh Khan (39 off 25) further maintained the momentum before Shankar’s explosive cameo pushed the total past 200.
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Baroda’s Lukman Meriwala was the standout bowler, claiming three wickets, while Krunal Pandya, Ninad Rathva, and Mahesh Pithiya chipped in with one wicket each. In response, Baroda’s chase began on a shaky note, with openers Mitesh Patel (18 off 11) and Ninad Rathva (29 off 19) failing to capitalize on their starts.
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Bhanu Pania briefly revived hopes with a quickfire 42 off 20 balls. However, the real game-changer was Hardik Pandya, who redeemed his earlier expensive over with a scintillating knock. Pandya smashed 69 off just 30 deliveries, including seven massive sixes, to steer Baroda to a nail-biting victory. Baroda ultimately chased down the target with three wickets in hand, capping off a thrilling contest filled with spectacular performances.