Mohali, Sep 20: Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya once displayed his explosive big-hitting skills as he posted his career-best score in the Twenty20 Internationals and helped Team India post a massive 208 for six against Australia in the opening game on Wednesday (September 20) in Mohali.
Sent in to bat at number five, Pandya smashed an unbeaten 71 off just 30 deliveries and took Australian bowlers on remand in the death overs. The right-handed batter from Baroda - who has been going through a purple patch in 2022 - slammed his second half-century in the T20Is off just 25 deliveries. In the death overs, he took on the offensive and finished the innings with a flourish.
Pandya - who has played some brilliant knocks earlier in the year - took the responsibility upon his shoulders and took his team past the 200-run mark for the first time against Australia in the T20Is with his power-packed finishing skills.
He smashed three consecutive maximums on the last three deliveries of the final over of the innings bowled by pacer Cameron Green. He first smashed a maximum over deep mid-wicket and followed it up with a biggie over long-off. The final ball of the innings was dispatched over deep backward point as India posted 208 for 6 in the stipulated 20 overs.
The last over from Green was always going to be targeted and Pandya ensured his team made the most of it. His innings comprised seven fours and five towering sixes and scored at an incredible strike rate of 236.67. Impressed with Hardik's pyrotechnics, the cricketing fraternity lavished praise upon the all-rounder.
Here's how the cricketing fraternity reacted to his knock:
Some finish that. Shows the range Hardik has. Sixes over mid-wicket, long-off and over point.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) September 20, 2022
Hardik Pandya is an investment which keeps on giving benefits .. bats well, scores quickly, can bowl well, field well. A true all rounder in every sense. But India needs to bowl really well to win this. Fingers crossed. #INDvsAUS. pic.twitter.com/MFIXtAS7H1
— Amit Mishra (@MishiAmit) September 20, 2022
What a brilliant way to end the innings @hardikpandya7, congratulations on your half century. Fantastic performance boys, let’s win this ✊ #INDvAUS #TeamIndia 🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/ok7YMl6Bfa
— Suresh Raina🇮🇳 (@ImRaina) September 20, 2022
Superstar 💥 @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/TkkUc7MWJC
— Krunal Pandya (@krunalpandya24) September 20, 2022
Hardik Pandya, you freak, what a player, 71* runs from just 30 balls including 7 fours and 5 sixes. pic.twitter.com/zr6e0TPHeq
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 20, 2022
Hardik Pandya is India’s MVP in T20s currently, no question. Superb half century and rousing finish which took score beyond 200 has put Aussies under deep pressure
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) September 20, 2022
7️⃣1️⃣* off 3️⃣0️⃣#PapaPandya smashes his highest T20I score 💙#INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/cGgXDJN9vr
— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) September 20, 2022
KL Rahul slammed his 18th T20I fifty after opening the innings. It was his second successive half-century in the T20Is. While Suryakumar Yadav also pitched in with a valuable 25-ball 46. However, their batting performance went in vain as Australians chased down the target with four wickets and as many balls to spare.