Tag: Hardik Pandya

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Pant, Pandya Power India to Warm Up Victory

The match was a mixed bag for the Indians as they did find some answers but were also left with some questions…reports Asian Lite News

The 2007 champion India proved their preparations for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2004 are on track with a comprehensive 60-run victory over neighbours Bangladesh in their one-off warm-up match at the Nassau County International Cricket Stadium, New York, on Saturday.

Electing to bat first, India rode on a blazing half-century by wicketkeeper-batter Rishabh Pant (53) and blistering knocks by Suryakumar Yadav 31 off 18 balls and a 23-ball unbeaten 40 by Hardik Pandya to post a challenging 182/5 in 20 overs.

Pant, who made an impactful return recently from a 15-month break following a near-fatal car accident in December 2022, hammered four boundaries and an equal number of sixes to top-score for India before he retired out. SKY blasted four boundaries in his 18-ball 31 while Pandya struck two fours and four sixes in his 23-ball unbeaten 40.

Defending the score, India restricted Bangladesh to 122/9 in 20 overs with pacer Arshdeep Singh claiming 2-12 in three overs and 2-13 by Shivam Dube. Skipper Rohit Sharma used eight bowlers with Jasprit Bumrah (1-12), Mohammed Siraj (1-17) and Hardik Pandya (1-30), and Axar Patel (1-10) being the other wicket-takers.

For Bangladesh, former skipper Mahmudullah struck 40 off 29 balls (4×4, 6×1) while another former skipper Shakib Al Hasan scored 28 off 34 balls.

The match was a mixed bag for the Indians as they did find some answers but were also left with some questions. Former skipper Virat Kohli was not included in the team as he joined the squad only a day ago.

Instead of using Yashasvi Jaiswal, the Indian team management used Sanju Samson was sent in as Rohit Sharma’s opening partner but could manage only one run. Rohit scored 12 off 19 balls, hitting two boundaries and one six. Indians scored 55/1 in the Power-play.

Pant was sent higher in the batting order and was also given the wicketkeeping gloves and he did well with the bat before he retired out for 53. He added 48 runs for the second wicket with Rohit and 44 runs for the third wicket partnership with Shivam Dube (14).

Pant and Dube showed good touch as did Hardik Pandya, who is under pressure after an indifferent performance in the Indian Premier League (IPL), also did well with both the bat and ball.

Pandya came down the order and struck a fine unbeaten 40 and also one wicket though he conceded 30 runs in three overs.

Brief scores:

Indians 182/5 in 20 overs (Rishabh Pant 53, Hardik Pandya 40 not out, Suryakumar Yadav 31, Rohit Sharma 23; Mahedi Hasan 1-22, Shoriful Islam 1-26) beat Bangladesh 122/9 in 20 overs (Mahmudullah 40, Shakib Al Hasan 29; Arshdeep 2-12, Shivam Dube 2-12) by 60 runs.

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Hardik Back Home

At Mumbai, Hardik will be re-united with Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and other members in IPL 2024, which marks his homecoming to the team where he rose to prominence in the cricketing world…reports Asian Lite News

A day after IPL 2024 retentions deadline ended, Gujarat Titans’ captain Hardik Pandya has made a move to his first IPL franchise Mumbai Indians, following a trade between the two franchises.

In an official statement, the tournament also said MI has traded Australia all-rounder Cameron Green to Royal Challengers Bangalore, with both trades carried out as per the existing player fees.

Sources had been saying to IANS for the last few days that trades involving Hardik and Green were likely to happen even though they didn’t materialise before the IPL 2024 retentions deadline ended at 5pm on Sunday, November 26. It is to be noted that trade window is open till December 12, a week before the IPL auctions happen in Dubai on December 19.

Hardik led Gujarat to the IPL title in 2022 in their debut season, and was the Player of the Match in the final against Rajasthan Royals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In 2023, Gujarat made the IPL final for the second time in as many seasons, where they finished runners up to Chennai Super Kings.

“As the first captain of Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya has helped the franchise deliver two fantastic seasons that resulted in winning one TATA IPL championship and one appearance in the final. He has now expressed a desire to return to his original team Mumbai Indians. We respect his decision and wish him all the very best in his future endeavours,” said Vikram Solanki, Director of Cricket, GT.

In both seasons, under Hardik’s leadership, Gujarat had topped the points table in the league stage. But it was at Mumbai, where Hardik began his IPL career from in 2015, at INR 10 lakhs. From an uncapped player, Hardik rose to be Mumbai’s vital cog in the wheel as a fast-bowling all-rounder.

“Seeing Hardik back at Mumbai Indians makes me very happy. It is a happy homecoming. He provides great balance to any team he plays. Hardik’s first stint with the MI family was hugely successful, and we hope he achieves even more success in his second stint,” said Akash Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians.

He also earned an India cap across all formats and was a member of their IPL title-winning seasons in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Hardik was released by Mumbai ahead of IPL 2022 mega auctions, and was taken in by Gujarat for INR 15 crores, where he spent two seasons.

In his stint with Gujarat, Hardik amassed 833 runs in 30 innings, with an average of 41.65 and strike rate of 133.49, hitting six half-centuries. He also took 11 wickets for the franchise at an economy rate of 8.1.

At Mumbai, Hardik will be re-united with Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and other members in IPL 2024, which marks his homecoming to the team where he rose to prominence in the cricketing world.

Hardik now becomes the third IPL captain to be traded after Ravichandran Ashwin moved from Punjab Kings to Delhi Capitals, and Rajasthan Royals traded Ajinkya Rahane also to Delhi in 2020.

“We are thrilled to welcome Hardik back home! It’s a heartwarming reunion with our Mumbai Indians family! From being a young scouted talent of Mumbai Indians to now being a team India star, Hardik has come a long way and we’re excited for what the future holds for him and Mumbai Indians!” said Nita M Ambani, owner of Mumbai Indians.

On the other hand, Green, who was bought for a whopping INR 17.5 crores at the IPL auction in December last year, featured in 16 matches for Mumbai. The Australian had an impressive start to the IPL, hitting an unbeaten century and two half-centuries while also taking six wickets as Mumbai’s campaign ended in Qualifier 2 of IPL 2023.

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‘I was not able to finish’

Hardik arrived in the 11th over of the first innings and made just 14 off 18 balls…reports Asian Lite News

Skipper Hardik Pandya has accepted blame for going off-script as India lost the T20I series decider against West Indies, and said he wasn’t able to seize the opportunity when he came in to bat and didn’t execute the game plan precisely as intended.

Hardik arrived in the 11th over of the first innings and made just 14 off 18 balls. He hit his first and only six in the 16th ball of his innings as India finished on 165 for 9 in their 20 overs. In response, West Indies chased it down with eight wickets and two overs to spare.

“If you see, we lost that period post ten overs since I came in to bat. I think I was not able to capitalise [on] the situation and took my time and was not able to finish. I think the boys really played well. I think, at that period when I went in, I kind of did not play exactly how it was supposed to be,” Hardik said in the post-match presentation

As captain too, Hardik made some calls that raised debate. He tried to bowl out his pacers early in the game, a move that did not pay off at all.

When asked about his thought process while deciding bowling changes in Lauderhill, Hardik said: “It is what I feel at that moment. I don’t plan much about it. If I see the situation and if I believe which is a better option, I generally prefer that. It’s not rocket science, it’s just whatever my gut says at that time.”

The 29-year-old also highlighted the significance of considering the larger perspective, even if it required accepting a few defeats while striving for that objective.

“All these (bilateral) games are the games where we are going to learn. It’s something which we have spoken in the group that anything which is difficult, we are going to try that and make sure that we get better. One series (loss) here and there is fine. It’s a longer process which I don’t think we need to explain much on it. But overall, the boys are committing to the cause which is very exciting.

“We have enough time to figure out what is supposed to be done in T20s. Sometimes losing is good because it teaches you a lot of things. It does not cover up the messes which you do but I think, on the positive side, there is a lot of learning which we as a group have learned and special mention to all the boys,” he said.

The loss on Sunday was India’s first T20I series loss under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya. It also broke India’s streak of 12 consecutive unbeaten bilateral series as the Asian side fell to their first series defeat in men’s T20Is in more than two years.

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Don’t mind playing the ‘Dhoni role’: Hardik Pandya

Under Hardik, this was India’s second T20I series win of this year after defeating Sri Lanka at home last month and on Wednesday..reports Asian Lite News

After leading India to 2-1 series victory over New Zealand in the recent T20I series, captain Hardik Pandya revealed he doesnt mind taking the game deep and playing the role that M.S Dhoni did in the shortest format of the game.

“See, to be honest, I’ve always enjoyed hitting sixes, but I have to evolve and that is life. I have to take the other part where I’ve always believed in partnerships. I want to give my team and the other person more calmness and the assurance that at least I’m there.”

“I’ve played more games than any of those guys out there. So, I’ve known the experience and more than the experience part, it’s where I’ve batted, and I’ve learnt how to accept pressure and I’ve learnt how to kind of swallow the pressure and kind of make sure the team and everything are calm,” he said in the post-match press conference.

Under Hardik, this was India’s second T20I series win of this year after defeating Sri Lanka at home last month and on Wednesday, he was giving strike most of the time to Shubman Gill so that the youngster could do the bulk of hitting.

“In that way, maybe I have to get my strike rate down. Taking new opportunities or taking new roles is (something) I’ve always looked forward to. I don’t mind coming in and playing the role which somewhere down the line Mahi (Dhoni) used to play.”

“I think at that time, I was young, and I was hitting all around the park, but now since he has gone, all of a sudden that responsibility…It has just naturally come to me, and I don’t mind (doing it). We’re getting the result we want and it’s okay,” he added.

Hardik is also regularly bowling the tough overs for India in the Power-play since the start of 2023, including the time when he got some swing in the Indore ODI when Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were rested, to take the pressure of doing the difficult task off Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik.

“I had to bowl with the new ball (in T20Is) because Arshdeep (Singh). I don’t want any new guy to come and have that difficult role of [bowling first up with the new ball] because if they’re put under pressure, then we’re chasing the game. So, I’ve always been (like) leading from the front and I’ve been working on my new-ball skills, which is helping me.”

With the 2023 ODI World Cup to be held in India in October-November and a T20 World Cup in the West Indies in 2024, Hardik signed off by saying white-ball cricket is his priority right now over playing the longer format.

“I will come (back) when I feel (it’s) the right time to play Test-match cricket. Right now, I’m going to focus on white-ball cricket, which is important, and if time is right and body is fine, I’ll give (the longer format) a try.”

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Hardik Pandya to lead India in Sri Lanka T20Is

Rohit, who injured his thumb on the Bangladesh tour, will return to lead the Indian team in ODI series against Sri Lanka…reports Asian Lite News

All-rounder Hardik Pandya has been named Team India captain for the T20I series against Sri Lanka as senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and KL Rahul are not part of the squad.

Rohit, who injured his thumb on the Bangladesh tour, will return to lead the Indian team in ODI series against Sri Lanka.

“The All-India Senior Selection Committee has picked national squads for the upcoming Sri Lanka Tour of India to be held in January 2023. The tour comprises three T20Is and as many ODIs,” the BCCI said in a statement on Tuesday.

India’s squad for Sri Lanka T20Is: Hardik Pandya (Captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (VC), Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Sanju Samson, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Shivam Mavi, Mukesh Kumar.

India’s squad for Sri Lanka ODIs: Rohit Sharma (Captain), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ishan Kishan (wk), Hardik Pandya (VC), Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohd. Shami, Mohd. Siraj, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh.

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