India all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the third and final ODI against England which was played in Manchester on July 17, 2022. India won the match by 5 wickets and pocketed the series 2-1, after having won the T20I series 2-1 as well.
While Rishabh Pant walked away with the Player of the Match award for his 125*, Hardik Pandya was an equal contributor to the win, first taking 4/24 and then making 71 in 55 balls, for which he was named the Player of the Series.
When Hardik came out to bat, India were in a spot of bother having lost four wickets in a chase of 260. At that juncture, Hardik played with positive intent and stitched a game-breaking stand of 133 with Rishabh Pant.
"It is always very good to contribute in all the departments, I think that has given me a lot of confidence in the past, it adds more layers to my game and to my confidence," he said in the post-match presser on Sunday (July 17). "And Rishabh... his innings was very important for us, the partnership as well and obviously the way he finished, we all know what kind of talent he has, it is just when it comes out, it is very easy to the eye, and also gives a lot of people... you know their heartbeat also goes up. But at the same time, it gives the eyeballs as well... all the kinds of shots he plays," he said in the post-match presser.
Not only did he shine with the bat, but Hardik had to also step up in the bowling department, with ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah not playing in the match due to a back spasm. Pandya showed his versatility and picked the wickets of Jason Roy and Ben Stokes in the middle overs and then returned to break the threatening stand between Jos Buttler and Liam Livingstone by taking the scalps of both the batters.
"I knew that Jasprit was not going to play this game. Obviously, yes, when someone like him (is injured)... he was telling me, 'you may have to bowl a couple of overs in the death as well' (and) I said, 'very big shoes to fill'. I had to step up, not at the death, but in making sure that in the middle overs I got the breakthroughs. Whenever things happen to me, the way I planned, it gives confidence," he noted.
Hardik will now be seen in action in the five-T20I series against West Indies in the Caribbean.
(Cricbuzz inputs)
