Hardik Pandya Archives

Hardik Pandya becomes first Indian to top T20I All-Rounder Rankings

DUBAI: Hardik Pandya earned the reward for his all-round brilliance during India’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph as he claimed the top spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s T20I All-Rounder Rankings.

Pandya jumped two places to become the joint-number one all-rounder along with Sri Lankan captain Wanindu Hasaranga with 222 rating points.

Indian all-rounder made valuable contributions both with the bat and ball to lead his team to their second T20 World Cup title. He scored 144 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151, along with 11 wickets at 17.36.

In the final against South Africa, he picked important wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller at crucial times to seal the thrilling last-over victory for his team.

It’s worth noting that Hardik Pandya is the first player from India to reach the top spot in the T20I All-Rounder Rankings.

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Meanwhile, Afghanistan veteran Mohammad Nabi dropped four places to sixth. As a result, Australia’s Marcus Stoinis, Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, Bangladesh’s Shakib Al Hasan, and England’s Liam Livingstone all moved up one spot.

South African pace bowler Anrich Nortje, on the back of his fiery pace bowling in the T20 World Cup, jumped seven places to claim his career-best second spot in ICC Men’s T20I Bowling Rankings.

Nortje took 15 wickets in nine games at an average of 13.40 to guide South Africa to their first-ever final of an ICC World Cup in any format.

His Indian counterpart, Jasprit Bumrah rose 12 places to reach 12th after taking 15 wickets in eight games, which earned him the Player of the Tournament award.

READ: David Miller breaks silence on T20I retirement

Emotional Hardik Pandya opens up about ‘unfair’ treatment after T20 World Cup win

All-rounder Hardik Pandya could not hold on to his emotions after he helped India end their trophy drought by defeating South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final.

Pandya picked the key wicket of South Africa’s batting mainstay Heinrich Klaasen, followed by a brilliant last over. Defending 15 runs in the last over, he removed the pinch hitter David Miller on the first ball to seal the game for India.

The all-rounder faced massive criticism over the past few months after he replaced Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians.

Speaking after the match, Pandya expressed his emotions and reflected on the treatment he received during the last six months, which he termed ‘unfair.’

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“It means a lot. Very emotional, we’ve been working very hard and something was not clicking. But today we got what the whole nation wanted. Special for me after my six months, I haven’t spoken a word, things have been unfair, but I knew there’d be a time I could shine,” Hardik Pandya shared.

“An opportunity like this makes it all the more special. We always believed, stayed calm, and let the pressure come to them [South Africa]. I have been in this situation, I enjoy the pressure situation.”

The star player also talked about Indian head coach Rahul Dravid, who announced before the tournament that this would be his last assignment.

“Very happy for him (Dravid), he’s been a wonderful man, really enjoyed working with him, to give him a farewell like this is wonderful, have had a very good relationship with him and became friends. Very happy for all the support staff,” he added.

READ: Rohit Sharma calls time on T20I career after World Cup win

Hardik Pandya ruled out of the ICC World Cup 2023

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of the rest of the ICC World Cup 2023 with an ankle injury, it was announced Saturday.

The 30-year-old damaged his left ankle while bowling during unbeaten tournament hosts India’s ICC World Cup 2023 win against Bangladesh in Pune last month and it has now been confirmed he will be unable to take any further part in the event.

Following prolonged on-field treatment, he tried running in to bowl but could only hobble towards the crease and eventually limped off the field.

India won the match by seven wickets, with Pandya playing no part in the match after suffering the aforementioned injury.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Pandya’s injury, however, paved the way for Mohammed Shami’s return to the side, with the paceman having since taken 14 wickets in three matches at a stunningly low average of 6.71.

Prasidh Krishna, who has appeared in just 19 white-ball internationals for India, will now take Pandya’s place in a 15-man squad.

But the 27-year-old fast-medium bowler will do well to break into a formidable India pace attack of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Shami.

India, already into the semi-finals, will look to maintain their perfect start against South Africa in Kolkata on Sunday.

India’s Squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Prasidh Krishna, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav

READ: Ravindra, Williamson power New Zealand to 401 against Pakistan

Hardik Pandya ruled out of ICC World Cup 2023 clash against England

Indian allrounder Hardik Pandya will remain out of the team for their upcoming ICC World Cup 2023 match against England on October 29 in Lucknow, owing to his ongoing recovery from the ankle injury.

Hardik Pandya twisted his ankle last Thursday just three balls into his stint as the first change in the ninth over during the match against Bangladesh.

Following prolonged on-field treatment, he tried running in to bowl but could only hobble towards the crease and eventually limped off the field.

India won the match by seven wickets, with Pandya playing no part in the match after suffering the aforementioned injury.

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Subsequently, he missed the next match against New Zealand and was replaced by Suryakumar Yadav, who could only score two runs before being run out.

India went on to win the match by four wickets, courtesy of Virat Kohli’s gutsy 95-run, which propelled India to the top of the ICC World Cup 2023 standings with five wins out of five games.

Set to chase 274, India completed the pursuit for the loss of six wickets and 12 balls remaining to stay unbeaten in the mega event.

Notably, this was India’s first victory over New Zealand after 20 years in an ICC tournament.

India’s Squad for ICC World Cup 2023

Rohit Sharma (capt), Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav.

READ: Angelo Mathews replaces injured Pathirana in Sri Lanka’s World Cup squad

Hardik Pandya ruled out of ICC World Cup 2023 clash with New Zealand

Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has been ruled out of India’s ICC World Cup 2023 clash with New Zealand after suffering an injury in the win over Bangladesh, the BCCI said in a statement Friday.

Pandya twisted his ankle Thursday just three balls into his stint as the first change in the ninth over, after being hit for consecutive boundaries by Liton Das.

Following prolonged on-field treatment, he tried running in to bowl but could only hobble towards the crease and eventually limped off the field.

Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) boss Jay Shah said Pandya would not fly to Dharamsala for Sunday’s match with the Kiwis.

He would instead “join the team directly in Lucknow where India play England” for their next match on the following Sunday, Shah said in a statement.

Hardik Pandya’s departure saw Kohli bowl for the first time in six years when he took charge for the rest of the over.

India defeated Bangladesh by seven wickets with Virat Kohli making his 48th ODI century to close in on Sachin Tendulkar’s record of 49 hundreds in the format.

Chasing a modest 257, India comfortably raised 261 for the loss of three wickets and 51 balls to spare.

READ: Virat Kohli closes gap on Sachin Tendulkar’s record after 48th ODI ton

Indian captain Rohit Sharma once again scripted a flying start for his side in the run chase as he, alongside Shubman Gill, scored 88 runs for the first wicket stand.

Rohit, who majorly dominated the opening stand, fell just shy of his half-century as he perished after scoring a 40-ball 48 which featured seven boundaries and two sixes.

Virat Kohli then joined Shubman Gill at the crease and together another crucial partnership for India, adding 44 runs to the total before the latter perished soon after amassing his half-century.

He remained a notable contributor to India’s fourth victory in the ICC World Cup 2023 with a brilliant 53. His 55-ball knock included five boundaries and two boundaries.

“Babar and Rizwan were timid,” says Hardik Pandya

AHMEDABAD: India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya commented on Pakistan’s dismal performance with the bat against arch-rivals India on Saturday, asserting that Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were timid amid their partnership.

Pakistan, at one stage, were looking in a strong position to amass the 300-run mark. The tide changed when skipper Babar Azam was dismissed for 50 by India pacer Mohammed Siraj.

It sparked a collapse and the side were dismissed for just 191.

Hardik Pandya said he knew India was in the game as Pakistan captain Babar Azam and wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan settled the side with a timid batting approach.

“Babar [Azam] and [Mohammad] Rizwan were timid,” Hardik Pandya said. “They didn’t take any chances, which is why we thought we were always in the game. There wasn’t much in the pitch for the bowlers. They didn’t try going for shots or attack us, which is why we were able to bowl dot balls.

“I have seen that if two players bat in the same way, if one gets out, then it opens up a lot of doors.”

Watch ICC World Cup 2023 Live on ARY ZAP

Set to chase a modest 192, India comfortably knocked off the winning runs for the loss of just three wickets and 117 balls to spare.

Indian captain Rohit Sharma gave his side a flying start despite his opening partner Shubman Gill (16) perished cheaply in the third over with just 26 runs on the board.

Rohit then put together a one-sided 56-run partnership with Virat Kohli, who could score a mere 16 before falling victim to Hasan Ali in the 10th over.

Meanwhile, Kohli’s dismissal did not hurt India much as Rohit continued his onslaught and took India past the 150-run mark in 21 overs.

He, however, remained unlucky to not be able to convert his dominant knock into his eighth World Cup ton as he finally fell in the 22nd over.

Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with a brisk 63-ball 86 which featured six boundaries and as many sixes.

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Shreyas Iyer took the reigns of India’s pursuit after Rohit’s dismissal and knitted a match-winning 36-run partnership with KL Rahul, who scored 19 not out.

Iyer remained a notable contributor in India’s pursuit with an unbeaten half-century. His 62-ball 53 featured three boundaries and two sixes.

For Pakistan, Shaheen Shah Afridi bagged two wickets while Hasan Ali made one scalp.

READ: Gurbaz, Ikram power Afghanistan to 284 against holders England

Pandya, Pant star as India thump England in final ODI to seal series

MANCHESTER: Rishabh Pant’s maiden ODI ton and Hardik Pandya’s glittering all-round performance steered India to edge the series 2-1 against England after a comprehensive five-wicket victory n the final game, here at Old Trafford on Sunday.

Pant blasted an astounding 125 not out to chase down a 260-run target set by England in the first innings after India elected to field first.

Pandya combined excellently with Pant for the fifth-wicket partnership of 133 runs to take their side out of the crisis after India stumbled on 72/4 in the 17th over.

Pandya smashed a brilliant 71 off 55 balls, laced with ten boundaries after he remained clinical with the bowl and bagged four wickets.

England’s last match hero Reece Topley continued with his blistering form as he ripped through the Indian top-order, knocking down skipper Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli during his first spell and reduced India to 38/3 inside nine overs.

Suryakumar Yadav survived for another seven overs before he fell prey to Craig Overton on 16 runs in the 17th over.

Pandya and Pant then paired together to take the game away from England’s reach and moved the scoreboard at an accelerating pace before Brydon Carse finally removed Pandya after India were comfortable at 205 requiring just 55 runs in 87 balls.

Pant, however, remained in control and reached to his maiden ODI hundred before taking his side home with 47 balls to spare.

England, on the other hand, had a dismal start to their innings as Indian pacer Mohammad Siraj took down Jonny Bairstow and Joe Root on ducks in the second over of the game.

Opener Jason Roy and all-rounder Ben Stokes then braced the innings for while before both fell prey to Pandya on 41 and 27, respectively.

England were marching comfortably towards a mammoth and had already raised 198 in 36 overs with five wickets in hand before Pandya grabbed two back-to-back wickets in the next over.

The all-rounder dismissed Liam Livingstone and skipper Jos Butler on 27 and 60, respectively, to reduce the host to 199/7. The collapse helped India to bowl out England inside 46 overs.

For India, apart from Pandya’s four-wicket-haul, Yuzendra Chahal grabbed three wickets while Siraj made two scalps.

READ: Fernando frustrates Pakistan bowlers as Sri Lanka gain 136-run lead

Pandya stuns England as India bounce back in first white-ball encounter

SOUTHAMPTON: Hardik Pandya soothed India after a crushing red-ball defeat, with his sensational all-round performance as the touring side beat England by 50 runs in the first T20I, here on Thursday.

All-rounder Pandya smashed a blistering half-century off 30 balls coupled with pivotal knocks played by Deepak Hooda and Suryakumar Yadav, enabling their side to reach a massive total of 198 in the first innings.

However, England’s chase fell short of expectations as six of their batters failed to get into double figures while Pandya maintained his sublime form and claimed four wickets to knock the hosts out on 148.

Opting to bat first after winning the toss, Indian skipper Rohit Sharma tried to compensate for his absence in the Edgbaston Test after testing Covid positive as he blasted quick 24 runs off 14 balls, hitting four boundaries before he was caught behind the stumps on Moeen Ali’s delivery in the third over.

Hooda and Yadav carried the momentum forward for the Blue Shirts as both the batters moved the scoreboard at an accelerating pace. Hooda scored 33 off 17 balls laced with three fours and two sixes while Yadav made 39 off 19 including four boundaries and three sixes.

Meanwhile, Pandya combined excellently with Yadav and Axar Patel to upset England’s bowling attack as he pushed the ball for six boundaries and a huge six during his scintillating knock of 51 off 33 balls.

On the other side, England’s skipper Jos Butler went back on a duck after being bowled out by Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first over, forcing the hosts to get off to a poor start.

Pandya wreaked havoc on England in the fifth over dismissing stong-looking Dawid Malan on 21 followed by a cheap dismissal of Liam Livingstone on a duck in the same over. Jason Roy also fell cheaply on four by Pandy in the 7th over.

England were shattered by the tourists on 33/4 before rookie Harry Brook and left-hander Moeen Ali built a strong partnership of 61 runs. The side underwent another collapse in the 13th over as spinner Yuzendra Chahal removed the pair in the same over.

The rest of England’s batting line lacked vigor as it began to lose wickets at regular intervals and the side was eventually bowled out for 148 in the 20th over.

For India, Pandya starred with the bowl while Chahal and Arshdeep Singh grabbed two wickets each. Bhuvneshwar and Harshal Patel made one scalp apiece.

With the early win, India now have a 1-0 lead in the three-match T20I series against England with the second match scheduled on July 9 at Birmingham.

READ: Nadal ruled out of semi-final with injury, Kyrgios reaches Wimbledon final

Pandya to lead India in Ireland T20Is, Bhuvneshwar named as deputy

NEW DELHI: India have announced a 17-member squad with all-rounder Hardik Pandya to lead the side for the first time as the Men in Blue are scheduled to tour Ireland for the T20I series later this month.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has put faith in young players for the upcoming task against Ireland as Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, and Rohit Sharma have not been included in the squad.

Pandya, who steered Gujrat Titans to the IPL title this year with his captaincy, has been set to captain the Indian side for the two-match T20I series against Ireland with fast bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar named as vice-captain.

Meanwhile, right-handed batter Rahul Tripathi, became the new entrant in the Indian squad, following his phenomenal run in the IPL this season.

Squad: Hardik Pandya (c), Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav, Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Hooda, Rahul Tripathi, Dinesh Karthik (wk), Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.

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