Hardik Pandya scripted historical past in T20 internationals by smashing the second-fastest fifty by an Indian, ending behind solely Yuvraj Singh on the all-time list. The blistering knock underlined Pandya’s impression as one in every of India’s most damaging middle-order batters in the shortest format.
Hardik Pandya lit up Friday night time on the Narendra Modi Stadium, hammering his approach into the report books with a 16-ball fifty in the ultimate T20I in opposition to South Africa. The crowd roared, head coach Gautam Gambhir was on his ft, and actually, you possibly can really feel the stadium buzzing as India piled on the runs. With that blitz, Hardik now owns the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian. Only Yuvraj Singh’s legendary 12-ball fifty in opposition to England again in 2007 stands forward of him. That’s some severe firm.
Hardik’s entrance wasn’t refined. He strode in after Suryakumar Yadav bought out, and instantly, he made his intentions clear. First ball? He despatched it hovering over mid-off for six—so exhausting it truly hit a cameraman and stopped play for a bit whereas the physio checked in. The crowd barely had time to catch their breath earlier than the onslaught continued.
Things hit one other degree in the 14th over. George Linde ran in, however Hardik simply teed off—smashing back-to-back sixes, together with his signature no-look shot over mid-wicket and a flat pull for 4. He went from 30 to 50 in a blink, mentioning his half-century with one other huge six off Bosch in the seventeenth. Pandya was on hearth.
Hardik Pandya in the home
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He wasn’t doing it alone, although. Tilak Varma on the different finish saved issues rolling, notching up his personal fifty off 30 balls. Together, they placed on a present, pushing India’s run charge sky-high, particularly in the ultimate overs. South Africa simply couldn’t catch a break.
Earlier, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson had set issues up with a speedy 54 in the powerplay. But it was Hardik’s completion that turned an excellent rating right into a mountain. For the selectors assembly in Mumbai tomorrow to finalize the World Cup squad, that is precisely what they needed to see.
More than simply runs, this was Hardik making a press release. He’s answered questions on his health, and heading into the T20 World Cup in February, he’s clearly the man India desires closing out video games.
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