New Delhi: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube stole the show in the fourth T20I against England at the Maharashtra Cricket Stadium in Pune. The all-rounder duo stitched a magnificent partnership to rescue India from a precarious position to a powerful score of 181/9 in the crucial match.
After being put into bat, India made a shaky start losing Sanju Samson (1), Tilak Varma (0) and Suryakumar Yadav (0) for just 12 runs. Abhishek Sharma played some superb shots but his innings of 29 lasted just 19 balls. Rinku Singh made a useful contribution of 30 runs off 26 balls but it was the sensational stand of 87 runs off 45 balls for the sixth wicket that stole the show in what looked like a faltering Indian innings.
Pandya and Dube shared the second-highest partnership for India for the sixth wicket or lower to put India in the ascendancy at the innings break.
A devastating performance by Dube, Pandya
Both batters showed their intentions right from the word do and decimated the English bowling attack with some powerful strokes. While Dube reached his fifty in 31 balls, Pandya brought up his half-century off just 27 balls. Pandya’s brutal knock was studded with four boundaries and as many sixes, including a no-look shot. The star all-rounder showed his hitting prowess with some incredible shots which broke the internet as fans hailed the Gujarat star as India’s best all-rounder in T20s.
Here’s how social media reacted to Pandya’s sensational knock
INDIA’s GREATEST ALL-ROUNDER IN T20 🙇
– It’s no other than Hardik Pandya. pic.twitter.com/JAoZ9vdKT2
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) January 31, 2025
27 ball fifty by Hardik Pandya. 🤯
– The No.1 T20i All Rounder show in Pune. pic.twitter.com/zDUUFxhz3S
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) January 31, 2025
Dances down the track ✅
Times his shot to perfection 👍
Puts one into the stands 👌Hardik Pandya 🤝 MAXIMUM
Follow The Match ▶️ https://t.co/pUkyQwxOA3 #TeamIndia | #INDvENG | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/nQkUdGB2u8
— BCCI (@BCCI) January 31, 2025
While Pandya (53 off 30 balls) was dismissed in the 18th over, Dube (52 off 33 balls) was run out on the last ball of the innings.
Saqib Mahmood (3/35) was the pick of the bowlers for the visitors with three wickets. India are 2-1 up in the 5-match series and a win in Pune will lead them to another series win at home.
India vs England: Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube shared the second-highest partnership for India for the sixth wicket or lower to put India in a commanding position at the innings break. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
