On Wednesday, the audience applauded Hardik Pandya instead of jeering the all-round player because he was wearing a blue jersey. In contrast to the deep blue Mumbai Indians shirt he wore in the face of a fierce storm during the 2024 IPL, Pandya’s blue jersey on Wednesday was that of India. Pandya’s fast-medium bowling, which resulted in three wickets and the statement “enjoyed hitting the stumps,” was crucial in this situation.
During the innings break of India’s Twenty20 World Cup match against Ireland, Hardik told the broadcasters, “It’s always special to play for the country, and the WC is something I’ve been able to contribute.” Once again, Pandya seemed at home in India blues after enduring the most terrifying two and a half months of his cricket career as MI captain.
In the next few days, his captain Rohit Sharma will require further overs from him to adjust the moving parts in his squad lineup. He bowled those four crucial overs. Sunil Gavaskar was thereafter questioned over the difficult two months he spent playing in the IPL.
“It is really significant to play for India. It is enormous.
The fact that he bowled his four overs without fail and the way he was running in were both amazing. It’s not like he bowled two overs and then rested. It was also necessary to conduct that test. “He performed incredibly well in that test as well,” Gavaskar stated on Star Sports.
He bowled 72 percent of deliveries (per pitch map) on length or slightly short of good length while on a helpful trajectory. 44 percent of the 72 percent of pitches were long enough to allow the ball to swing and go off the surface.
“The opening wicket was excellent. I usually don’t hit the stumps very often because I usually bowl back of a length. To be in the game, though, I had to be much fuller on this wicket. Sure, the ball could fly if you bowl too short, Pandya admitted. While the ball came in with the tail in Lorcan Tucker’s first dismissal, removing the middle stump, Curtis Campher was destroyed by a delivery that pitched on length and seamed away.”
Having faced critisism on social media and booed at each and every Indian venue, the loud cheer of approval for his stupendous bowling show must have been music to his ears.
“It’s always fantastic to see crowd supporting us, we Indians are everywhere, we rule the world. Good to have so much support, many thanks to them,” he said
