New Delhi: Hardik Pandya was at his absolute best as the flamboyant all-rounder announced his comeback with a blistering unbeaten half-century in the India vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Antigua. Hardik, who faced a lot of criticism for his poor performance with the bat, silenced his critics with a sensational knock on Saturday.
Hardik came into bat when India needed him to play a big hand in the death overs and the all-rounder did not disappoint his teammates nor the cricket fans. He showcased his class with an unbeaten 50-run knock in just 27 balls which included four boundaries and three massive sixes. His last-over heroics, where he scored 18 runs helped India to amass 196 in the stipulated 20 overs.
Record half-ton by Hardik
This fifty became even more special as it was the fifth fastest half-century by an Indian player in a T20 World Cup contest. This was also the quickest fifty by an Indian when batting at no. 6 or lower in a T20 World Cup match. The fastest fifty scored by an Indian batter in the showpiece event is the one scored off just 12 balls by Yuvraj Singh in the 2007 edition of the event.
Meanwhile, the 30-year-old has managed 89 runs so far with the bat with a strike rate of 141, and has been brilliant with the ball as well, picking up 8 wickets so far. After smashing a boundary off the last ball of the innings which also completed his half-century, Hardik celebrated in a unique style that is not often the trademark of the stylish player. It was witnessed once in the India vs Pakistan encounter after he clinched a wicket.
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— Azam Khan (@AzamKhan6653) June 22, 2024
All-rounder Hardik Pandya played a sensational knock in the India vs Bangladesh T20 World Cup Super Eight clash in Antigua on Saturday. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
