India’s Hardik Pandya

Flamboyant Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya demonstrated his value with the ball, taking a couple of crucial wickets in India’s thrilling six-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan on Sunday in New York. Despite a disappointing performance with the bat, scoring just seven runs in the first half of the match, Pandya showcased his prowess with the ball by claiming the important wickets of Fakhar Zaman and Shadab Khan.

Pandya bowled with exceptional control and maintained discipline with his line and length during his four-over spell. He conceded just 24 runs at an economy rate of six, effectively using his variations to unsettle the Pakistani batters. Pandya cleverly outsmarted Fakhar Zaman with a short delivery. Noticing the left-hander stepping out of his crease, the all-rounder delivered a short ball to outfox India’s tormentor from the 2017 Champions Trophy final. Hardik Pandya

 

Shadab also fell victim to Pandya’s short delivery, top-edging the ball for Pant to complete his second catch. Shadab attempted to give himself room but failed to get enough power behind the shot. To add to the dismissal, Hardik added a touch of flair by giving Shadab a cold send-off with a nonchalant shrug of his shoulder.

Rohit, Hardik Back as Brothers?

Things appear to be improving for Hardik. After a disappointing season with the Mumbai Indians, where he captained the franchise and faced severe public backlash, reports suggested a rift between Hardik and Rohit Sharma. However, judging by Sunday’s events, it seems all is well now. Rohit was ecstatic after witnessing Hardik’s impressive performance with the ball and lifted him in celebration. Hardik Pandya

 

Meanwhile, premier Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah showcased once again why he is considered one of the best in the business. He picked up three wickets and conceded just 14 runs in his four overs. Bumrah received excellent support from the other bowlers, keeping things tight at the end as Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh claimed two wickets each.

 

Chasing a modest 120-run target, Pakistan needed 18 runs from the last over. Despite being hit for a couple of boundaries, Arshdeep Singh held his nerve as India clinched the thriller by a narrow margin.  Hardik Pandya

 

After an underwhelming performance from the batters, the pace duo of the ever-reliable Bumrah (3/14) and Pandya brought India back into the game with incisive spells. Their efforts led to Pakistan losing wickets in a heap, finishing at 113 for seven in 20 overs.

This marked India’s second win in as many games, while Pakistan suffered another defeat following their shock loss to the USA in their opener.  Hardik Pandya