India Pakistan match: 'Big match player!' Hardik Pandya earns respect of fans for crucial knock

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Hardik Pandya left his mark in the India-Pakistan match again as the all-rounder scored a crucial 90-ball 87 to help Men in Blue recover from a top-order collapse to a decent total above 250 in the Asia Cup 2023 group match at Pallekele International Stadium in Kandy on Saturday (September 3, 2023).

Hardik Pandya, who is also the captain of India in the shortest format, added a crucial 138 runs for the fifth wicket with Ishan Kishan after the Men in Blue were reeling at 66/4 by the end of the 18th over. Kishan scored an 81-ball 82 from the other end to keep the scoreboard ticking as the duo also increased the run rate.

Fans heaped praises on both the batters on Twitter while special praises were reserved for Hardik Pandya, who has picked up the knack of delivering the goods in big matches as the batter memorably had a crucial stand with Virat Kohli in the last India vs Pakistan match in the T20 World Cup last year.

India eventually finished their innings at 266 all out in 48.5 overs after the duo departed in a space of 30 runs. Pandya, who slowly built his innings while allowing Ishan Kishan to take charge, eventually smashed seven fours and a six during the course of his innings.

He fell at the beginning of the 44th over to Shaheen Afridi in a soft dismissal as his departure at a crucial juncture of the match took a hit on India's ambition to touch the 300-run total. India lost their tailenders following his departure within 27 runs as Shaheen Afridi took a four-for while Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took three wickets each.

Jasprit Bumrah scored a crucial 16 runs down the order, allowing India to go past 250 with the No. 10 hitting three boundaries in the death overs before the Pakistan pacers cleaned off the Indian tail.