In the series decider of the three-match ODI series against England at Old Trafford on Sunday (July 17), India found themselves tottering at 72/4 in the 17th over while chasing the target of 260. Amid the pressure situation, Rishabh Pant and Hardik Pandya took matters into their own hands and initiated a counterattack.
The duo took every English bowler on and belted them all around the park while stitching a 133-run match-defining partnership. Hardik was finally dismissed in the 36th over after a magnificent knock of 71 off just 55 balls.
However, Pant kept the onslaught going and reached his maiden century in ODIs in the process. Finally, with a reverse sweep off Joe Root’s bowling for a boundary, he took his team over the line with more than 7 overs to spare. The wicketkeeper-batter remained unbeaten on 125 off just 113 balls, smashing 16 boundaries and 2 sixes.
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Former India pacer Zaheer Khan said that the 22-year-old loves the big stage and it is about playing impactful innings when it is most needed.
“I think when you look at him, he has gone about playing these impact inningses, and one thing stands out is his hunger for success. The big stage really excites him and that’s the way he looks at the game. It is about contributing when it matters the most and that really gets him going,” he told Cricbuzz.
“There is no other explanation to this(laughs). That is the way he is built. When you are put in that situation where everything matters, that’s what brings out the best in him,” he added.
Hardik before shining with the bat had bowled outstandingly well as he registered his career-best bowling figures in the 50-over format, taking 4 wickets while giving just 27 runs in 7 overs.
Pant received the Player of the Match award despite Hardik’s all-round display. On the other hand, the all-rounder walked away with the player of the series award. Zaheer responded when questioned about the intriguing options: “When you play team sport, all this thing people don’t discuss, what matters is that happiness is visible in that group.”
The Men in Blue after winning the ODI series in England by 2-1 will next be seen in a multi-format series against West Indies in the Caribbean.
(CRICBUZZ INPUTS)
