NEW DELHI: In New York on Wednesday, Hardik Pandya sported a blue jersey, but this time, the crowd cheered him instead of jeering the all-rounder. The blue jersey Pandya wore belonged to India, contrasting with the deep blue of the Mumbai Indians, in which he faced an intense storm during the IPL 2024.
During this match, Pandya played a pivotal role with his fast-medium bowling, claiming three crucial wickets. He expressed his enjoyment in hitting the stumps, showcasing his effectiveness with the ball.
“Always special to play for the country, WC is something I've been able to contribute,” Hardik told broadcasters during the innings break during India's T20 World Cup match against Ireland.
After enduring the most challenging two and a half months of his cricket career as the Mumbai Indians skipper, Pandya once again appeared comfortable in the Indian blues.
His four invaluable overs showcased his return to form, providing a much-needed boost for his skipper Rohit Sharma, who will rely on Pandya's versatility in the upcoming matches to balance the team combination.
On a helpful track, Pandya delivered 72 percent of his balls (according to the pitch map) either on length or just short of good length. Impressively, 44 percent of these deliveries were pitched on a good length, allowing the ball to swing and extract movement off the surface.
This precision and adaptability underline Pandya's effectiveness with the ball, offering valuable support to the Indian team.
“I really liked the first wicket. Generally, don't hit the stumps often, I have a tendency to bowl back of a length. But on this wicket, I needed to be a lot fuller to be in the game. Yes, if you bowl short, the ball may fly,” Pandya said.
The first dismissal of Lorcan Tucker witnessed the ball tailing in and dislodging the middle stump, while Curtis Campher fell victim to a delivery that pitched on length and seamed away.
For Pandya, who had faced relentless trolling on social media and was booed at every Indian venue, the resounding cheer of approval for his remarkable bowling display 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.
(With PTI inputs)
