Hardik Pandya showcased his explosive batting skills during the first T20I against Bangladesh, leading India to a thrilling victory with a stunning no-look four followed by a powerful six. The match, held at the Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior, marked an impressive start for India in the series.
Hardik Pandya’s Explosive No-Look Shot
With Team India needing just 10 runs to win from 52 balls, Hardik Pandya brought his signature flair to the crease. Facing pacer Taskin Ahmed, he executed a remarkable no-look shot, ramping a back-of-a-length delivery over the wicketkeeper’s head for a boundary. This audacious shot quickly went viral on social media, showcasing his confidence and style.
Watch the shot here:
But Pandya’s brilliance didn’t stop there. On the very next ball, Taskin bowled a full toss that Pandya swung at with authority. His bat flew towards the leg side as he connected, sending the ball racing past backward point for another four. This moment not only demonstrated his power but also added a touch of humor to his innings.
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Finishing in Style
As India approached victory with just two runs needed, Pandya channeled his inner MS Dhoni to finish the game in style. He pulled a short delivery over cow corner for a six, concluding the match with an impressive 39 runs off just 16 balls, including five fours and two sixes. His explosive performance not only secured the win but also thrilled fans who had come to witness the action.
While Pandya stole the show, he received valuable support from skipper Suryakumar Yadav and opener Sanju Samson, both contributing 29 runs each. Abhishek Sharma got off to a quick start with 16 runs off seven balls before being run out by Towhid Hridoy. Debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy also made his mark by finishing unbeaten on 16 runs off 15 deliveries.
Bowling Performance Sets the Stage
Earlier in the match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first. The Indian bowlers delivered an impressive performance, restricting Bangladesh to just 127 runs in 19.3 overs. Arshdeep Singh and Varun Chakravarthy were particularly effective, each taking three wickets, while debutant Mayank Yadav also claimed one wicket.
“The way the guys showed character playing on a new ground and the way we batted, it was great.”, India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, said after the game.
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