Hardik Pandya played a key role with the bat in India’s series-clinching 200-run victory over West Indies in the third and final ODI at Brian Lara Stadium, Trinidad on Tuesday (August 1).

While half-centuries from Shubman Gill (85 off 92), Ishan Kishan (77 off 64) and Sanju Samson (51 off 41) set the tone for India’s big score, it was Pandya’s brutal 70 not out in 52 balls that propelled the visitors to a mammoth 351/5 in 50 overs.

The stand-in India skipper took the Caribbean attack to the cleaners in the death overs. His knock was studded with 4 fours and 5 sixes.

During the innings break, India batter Hanuma Vihari showered ultimate compliment on Hardik Pandya’s knock, calling it MS Dhoni-kind of an innings.

"That was an MS Dhoni-kind of an innings. He bided his time at the start. MS used to do that when he was batting down the order. I think the transition started when he was batting up the order for his franchise, Gujarat Titans. He was batting at No.4, No. 3 sometimes. He wanted to take that responsibility and it showed today as well," Hanuma Vihari told JioCinema.

"He paced his innings very well. Hardik Pandya, over the years, has matured really well. He wants to take responsibility. He is a senior player now, he is the vice-captain of the white-ball team. Him taking responsibility is good to see," he added.

Former India cricketer Saba Karim was also impressed with Hardik Pandya's knock, hailing him as a capable batter for the finisher role.

"It was a well-compiled knock. I really feel that Hardik now fancies himself as a top-order batter. He has worked hard on his technique to become a more accomplished batter. That is why he believes he can deliver more if he is sent up the order,” Karim said on JioCinema.

"This (3rd ODI) was the perfect example of that. He realised on a track like this which was offering some turn, he needs to take his time and stay in the middle, he did all that to perfection.

"He got his eye in and he was able to unleash himself. This has been a perfect innings from Hardik Pandya.

"It may not be a bad idea to persist with him at No. 4 or No. 5 depending on the situation. He is capable of batting in the middle-overs plus finishing the game, like he did in today's innings," Karim added.

Later on, Shardul Thakur (4-37), Mukesh Kumar (3-30) and Kuldeep Yadav (2-25) bowled terrific spells to help India bundle out West Indies for a paltry 151 in 35.3 overs.

The Hardik Pandya-led Indian team will now face West Indies in a five-match T20I series, starting August 3 in Trinidad.