For a long time, the tag of the team’s best finisher was with MS Dhoni. Now, in the post-Dhoni era, Pandya, who currently plays like a pure hitter, because he’s not quite fit for bowling, seems to have made that tag his own. Many feel that Pandya is now putting himself in Dhoni’s finishing shoes and that’s great news for the Men in Blue. In today’s limited overs cricket, a powerful spiker is worth his weight in gold.
The stillness of Pandya in the fold. The way he makes use of the entire crease, he lags behind most of the time, the way he breaks the target on his head and takes the big shots and his immense self-confidence are signs that India has a real winner of the match. at. The opposition teams know that there is always a game for India, until Hardik is in the middle.
It was no surprise to hear Pandya, who was declared Man of the Match in the second T20 for his 42 unbeaten on 22 balls, say this after Sunday’s win that gave India an impregnable 2-0 lead in Match 3. T20. series – “During the lockdown, I wanted to focus on finishing games where it matters most … I have been in these situations many times and learned from my mistakes in the past. My game always revolves around the confidence I have, has that thin line that I rely on and I don’t get too confident. ”
Those are words that suggest that Hardik has realized the best way to use his innate faith in himself and not be a victim of overconfidence.
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As the tour progressed, Pandya has gotten better and better. And the results are showing for the whole team. Pandya was the best Indian rider in the ODI series. He scored 210 runs in 3 games (3 innings) with an average of 105.00.
In the second T20I, India needed 25 runs from the final two overs and Pandya delivered in style, breaking two sixes in the final over to secure a six-wicket victory with two balls to spare and seal the series for the Men in Blue.
In fact, after the victory of the series, the captain of India virat Kohli He also said: “You need that finalist and he (Pandya) is becoming that for us. He is hungry, he has to keep improving.”
Former fast bowler from India Chetan sharma He feels like Hardik Pandya is improving over time and now he knows how to handle the pressure.
“Pandya is improving over time. He is a talented cricketer, there is no question about that. Virat trusts Pandya and is meeting his expectations. He knows how to cope with pressure in critical situations. Pandya’s finishing skills improve. over time. He knows how to handle the pressure and stay calm in such crucial situations, “Sharma, who played 23 tests and 65 ODIs for India between 1984 and 1989, told TimesofIndia.com.
Some questions arose about an SUV not being able to bowl. But Hardik, with his recent hits, has shown that the decision to play him as a pure hitter was the right one. The team knows how effective you can be as a finisher and they stand behind that skill of yours. He plays the same role for his IPL franchise, the Mumbai Indians.
Now that Dhoni is no longer in the scheme of things, it is imperative that Hardik get all the support possible so that he can continue to hone his incredible natural abilities.
Like Dhoni, Hardik is also backed up to hit the big shots almost at will. He’s willing to dig deeper into the game and then switch to launch mode.
Ancient porter from India Kiran More He also spoke to TimesofIndia.com about how Hardik is shaping up to be a brilliant finisher.
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“Any player, especially a legend like MS Dhoni, leaves an impact on the team. Once a great player leaves, we need to find a solution. (A) all-rounder gives you balance in a team. Pandya is a match-winner. It has the ability to turn the game around, “More told TimesofIndia.com.
“In the second T20I, I would give all the credit to Pandya. Pandya was just magnificent. India was chasing over 190 and the team did really well and played like champions,” said More, who played 49 tests and 94 ODIs for India.
VIRAT KOHLI MISSION ‘T20 WORLD CUP’
Meanwhile, when it comes to T20 cricket, Virat Kohli, like all the other international captains, will have his sights set on the next edition of the ICC T20 World Cup, which will be played next year in India. Virat and the management of the Indian team have been giving opportunities to the youngsters, experimenting with different players to test the strength of the Indian team bench.
For Sharma and More, Kohli’s experiments have worked well for the Indian team.
“Virat has done a commendable job. His focus is on the whole series. He planned things very smartly. The ODI series disappeared, the T20I series is in his pocket and he also kept his focus on the Test series. So he put it to rest. your key players. Considering the Test series, you have to let your top bowlers rest for the big task. That’s what Virat did. In T20I, he used the players well. He gave opportunities to the youngsters in the series. I loved Virat’s strategy on the series. He used his bowlers according to the format and he rested players like Shami and Bumrah for the Test series, “Sharma told TimesofIndia.com.
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“The best part I liked about Virat in the series is that he tested the strength of his bench. He is preparing a team for the T20 World Cup. He gave opportunities to young people. Shardul, Natarajan, Iyer, all these players were tested. It feels good when you experiment and the results work in your favor, “said Sharma.
“Kohli is looking to build a good Indian team as the T20 World Cup approaches,” More said.
T20 SERIES ON THE STOCK EXCHANGE FOR INDIA – 3-0 SCORE LINE ON CARDS
It was the year 2016 when two lefties, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina, stood their ground to help India record a 3-0 win over Australia in the T20I series.
India, which had already sealed the series 2-0 after winning the first T20I by 37 runs and the second by 27 runs, came in with a license to kill in the third and final clash against the Yellow Brigade at the packed Sydney Cricket Ground. After Australia scored a colossal 197/5, thanks to a whirlwind century by Shane Watson, India took advantage of the heroics of Yuvraj and Raina to record a 3-0 shutout over Australia.
India needed 17 of 6 balls in the final with Yuvraj and Raina in the middle. Yuvraj, undefeated with 5 of 9 balls, was on strike and Andrew Tye was asked to throw the last over. The swashbuckling lefty crushed Tye by a four and then a six in the first two installments. Five runs were taken on the next three balls (1 goodbye, 2 and 2). With two runs required from the last ball, Raina stayed cool as a cucumber, making room and hitting the ball over the spot to set a limit to seal Shane Watson’s men 3-0.
On Sunday, December 6, 2020, in the same place (SCG), Hardik Pandya and Shreyas Iyer performed a kind of encore.
Pandya and Iyer chased after 37 runs in the final three overs, as India defeated Australia by six wickets in the second T20I to take an impregnable 2-0 lead in the three-game series. Pandya played a 42-run undefeated hit on just 22 balls, aided by three limits and two sixes, while Iyer was not left out in 15 of just 5 deliveries.
Chetan Sharma told TimesofIndia.com that seeing Pandya and Iyer reminded him of Yuvraj and Raina four years ago in the same place.
“In 2016, we had two left-handers who beat us the game. Raina and Yuvraj won the match for us. This time it was two right-handers: Pandya and Iyer. Pandya and Iyer reminded me of Yuvraj and Raina. A great effort from Pandya and Iyer too. “Sharma told Timesofindia.com.
“It’s a great effort from the India team. Winning in Australia is a completely different feeling. If you watch that match, it was a great team effort. First, it was Dhawan and then Virat Kohli who played a captain’s stroke. After that, Pandya played a great role as a finalist. What an ending for him. It was just fantastic. It was an incredible match, “said the former Indian running back.
India entered the T20I series after losing the ODI 1-2 series. India had lost the first two ODIs, but managed to get a consolation victory, thanks to Pandya’s 92 failing to eliminate 76 balls in the final ODI. The SUV was declared Man of the Match for its performance.
“We were surprised by the bowling attack at the ODI. We did not do well on the bowling front at the ODI. The players looked a bit tired. But it was an incredible performance at the last ODI. India has shown tremendous show in The T20I. It’s not easy to win in Australia. And when you play abroad, there is always pressure due to bigger terrains and conditions, “More told TimesofIndia.com.
India is now on the cusp of a 3-0 victory in the T20 series against the Australians in their backyard. The third and final T20 will also be played in Sydney on Tuesday, December 8.
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