Hardik Pandya registers this big record; goes past Yuvraj Singh, joins Bravo, Watson, Hafeez

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Southampton, July 8: All-rounder Hardik Pandya on Thursday (July 7) became the first Indian player to scalp four wickets and score a half-century in a single T20I match.

Hardik achieved this feat during the first T20I against England, where he scored 51 runs and went on to scalp four wickets to provide Team India with a 50-run victory.

With this record, Hardik has joined the list of Dwayne Bravo, Shane Watson, and Mohammed Hafeez.

Earlier, former all-rounder, Yuvraj Singh came close to this record in 2009 when he scored a half-century and scalped three wickets in a home series against Sri Lanka.

"The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now," said Hardik in the post-match presentation.

"For me, a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100 per cent and when you don't do that, there is no point playing," he added.

After his all-round performance helped Team India clinch victory against England in the first T20I, Hardik said that he would like to give equal importance to his batting and bowling, and we had glimpse of that at Southampton on Thursday night.

Hardik smashed 51 runs and went on to scalp four wickets to provide Team India with a win by 50 runs against England in the first T20I of the three-match series, here at Southampton on Thursday.

"I will give equal importance to my batting and bowling today. That 50 was important as well because we had lost wickets, but we maintained the momentum and we reached a good score," said Hardik in a post-match press conference.

"But the bowling bit will take more credit because that spell brought us in the game and made it difficult for England to stay in the game," he added.

The all-rounder also said that he is not thinking much about his future as he is currently focusing on his game for Team India.

"Obviously, right now I am not thinking much about what I'll be playing in the future and all that. Right now, I am focusing on as many games, I am available for India, that will be my intention.

“And talking about today's performance, obviously, it is always good to perform when your team requires and when your team wins," said Hardik.

"For me, it was simple, what my team required and doing what I know. I believe the hard work pays off, my point is to prepare well, but the result is not in my control.

“Right now, all is coming off, today is a good day, and tomorrow might be bad. So, you don't know, it is all about working hard, life goes on," he added.

Debutant Arshdeep Singh and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal scalped two wickets each while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel took one a piece and restricted England to 148.

"We as a team, it is a very confidence booster. Our regular five players are not there, and they will join so the team will get better only. The new guys are expressing themselves.

India’s bench strength is increasing and it is seeming like there is a change in culture," said the all-rounder.

"You talked about batting, it is a conscious effort, credit goes to Rahul Dravid and the management, they said to do one thing and just express yourself. When there is so much clarity, it is a big confidence booster.

“When we get out while hitting a shot, we don't think like oh no, what shot we have played. So, credit goes to the coaches," he added.

Coming to the match, an all-round performance from Hardik Pandya took India's total to 198/8 in the first innings.

Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav, and Deepak Hooda also scored 24, 39, and 33 runs, respectively.

For England, Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan scalped two wickets each, while Reece Topley, Tymal Mills, and Matt Parkinson took one wicket each.

Later, debutant Arshdeep Singh and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal scalped two wickets each while Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel took one a piece and restricted England at 148.

Moeen Ali and Chris Jordan were the picks among the batters as they scored 36 and 26 runs, respectively. Both the teams will be squaring off for the second T20I on Saturday at Birmingham.

This was India’s second match at Southampton and they registered their first win at this venue after going down to England back in 2014. India also has not won a T20I match at Edgbaston, Birmingham, and they will be keen to wrap up the series with a win at that venue on Saturday (July 9).