Raja liked the confidence with which Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant played in the 3rd ODI.
Team India came back from a precarious situation and were aided by the likes of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya to post a daunting total on the board, which in the end, didn't seem that daunting. However, cricketer-turned-commentator from Pakistan, Ramiz Raja, is in awe of the self confidence shown by the duo in the 3rd ODI against England.
Raja said on his YouTube channel, "At one point, India's innings was stuck at 157/4, then came India's young brigade. Their mentality is different, their skills are different and their instincts are different. They carry out their rebuilding phase through aggression. They make their presence felt through charge. They are so confident about themselves and their skills that they never give up."
Rishabh Pant walked in at No. 4 with the scoreboard reading 117/2 and openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan back in the hut. In the period of next 40 runs, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul also followed suit and in came Hardik Pandya. The duo shared a partnership of 99 runs in under 12 overs.
The 58-year-old continued, "When Virat Kohli gets out early, when centurion KL Rahul gets out early and when [Rohit] Sharma makes 30-35 runs and then gets out after settling in, any batting line-up would have come under pressure. But the cricketing matter of Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya is of a different kind. They look at the boundaries, they eye sixes instead of worrying about making a mistake and getting out."
"Although one mistake would have resulted in the innings nosediving because it was such a precarious situation. But the two batted outstandingly. Pant made some 70-odd (78). Similarly, Hardik Pandya, who blew hot-and-cold against extreme pace, on this pitch batted so well with Rishabh Pant against spin and medium pace," he added.
Lower down the order, Shardul Thakur came to the rescue once both Pant and Hardik were out. He scored a quick 30 off 21 balls and later contributed with the ball as well. He was the pick of the bowlers for Team India with figures of 4/67 followed by Bhuvneshwar Kumar's 3/42.
"Shardul turned out to be a hero with the bat. Played an innings of 30 off 21 balls. So, the heroes were limitless. Who all do we talk about? Shardul then took four wickets and Bhuvi further lifted his game in this final and tore apart the openers. His consistency is remarkable. Be it to the right-hander or the left-hander, he doesn't give room to anyone," Raja said.
Before finishing, he mentioned that the series will be remembered for the sixes and the final game will be remembered for the heroes that emerged.
"I loved this match and this series because it was a cracking contest. When champion teams face-off, cricket is bound to be electric. This series will be remembered for sixes. This match will be remembered because of the heroes," he signed off.