Hardik Pandya’s performance in all three departments of the game has been quite outstanding in 2022. Earlier this year, he led a debutant franchise Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their maiden season.

Pandya ended the triumphant IPL 2022 campaign with 487 runs in 15 games while also taking 8 wickets.

At the international level, the flamboyant all-rounder imitated the IPL 2022 form. He performed admirably in matches against South Africa at home in June and versus England in away conditions the following month.

In the third game of the ongoing five-T20I series against West Indies in St Kitts on Tuesday (August 2), Hardik recorded a rare double feat of 500 runs and 50 wickets in the shortest format.

Hardik Pandya removed Brandon King in the 8th over of the first inning to become only the sixth player from his country to take 50 wickets in T20Is. The last player to do so was Ravindra Jadeja, who accomplished the record in the second T20I on Monday (August 01).

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Pandya also achieved the double of 500 runs and 50 wickets in T20Is, becoming the 11th player in men's cricket and the 30th overall to accomplish the feat. Deepti Sharma, who has 521 runs and 65 wickets in T20Is, is the only other Indian to have completed this outstanding feat.

On Tuesday, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Despite the 57-run stand for the first wicket between Bradon King (20 off 20) and Kyle Mayers (73 off 50 balls), the Indian bowlers led by Bhuvneshwar Kumar did well to restrict the home side to 164/5.

Hardik bowled a fantastic spell which saw him take 1 wicket while conceding just 19 runs in 4 overs.

In reply, the Men in Blue on the back of Suryakumar Yadav’s whirlwind knock (76 off 44 balls) were able to chase down the target with 7 wickets in hand.

(ICC INPUTS)