3 times Hardik Pandya broke a budding partnership vs Pakistan
Hardik Pandya is a vital player for India in white-ball cricket. Apart from being a match-winner with the bat in the middle order, he is more than effective with his bowling and is a wicket-taking option for the skipper.
In the ongoing game against Pakistan in the 2023 World Cup, Pandya bowled in as the first change, dismissing Imam-Ul-Haq. The opener was looking solid and had added 32 runs before he was caught behind by KL Rahul.
This is not the first time that Pandya has broken a budding partnership against Pakistan in international cricket. Here is a look at three more such instances:
#1 Babar Azam - Asia Cup 2023
In the Super Four encounter against Pakistan at the R Premadasa in Colombo on September 10, 2023, India scored a mammoth 356 for the loss of two wickets in 50 overs.
Jasprit Bumrah dismissed opener Imam-Ul-Haq early, and skipper Babar Azam joined Fakhar Zaman on the crease. The duo added 26 runs and looked threatening on the crease.
Hardik Pandya was introduced in the bowling attack and struck immediately on his fourth ball, dismissing Babar Azam for 10.
Pakistan could not recover from the loss of their skipper and were bundled out for a paltry score of 128.
#2 Iftikhar Ahmed - Asia Cup 2022
The Asia Cup 2022 was played in T20 format, and the arch-rivals India and Pakistan locked horns in a group match on August 28, 2022.
Batting first, Pakistan lost the two early wickets of skipper Babar Azam and Fakhar Zaman. The duo comprising Mohammad Rizwan and Iftikhar Ahmed added 45 runs before Hardik Pandya had Ahmed caught behind.
Post the budding partnership of Ahmed and Rizwan being broken, Hardik Pandya picked up two more crucial wickets of Rizwan and Khushdil Shah and ended with figures of three for 25 from four overs.
Pakistan were bowled out for 147, and India chased the target with five wickets in hand and two balls to spare.
#3 Shahid Afridi - T20 World Cup 2016
On a tricky batting surface at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata during the T20 World Cup 2016, India invited Pakistan to bat first.
The Pakistan openers were dismissed early and were reduced to 46 for the loss of two wickets.
The dangerous duo of Shahid Afridi and Umar Malik were at the crease and added 14 runs before Hardik Pandya dismissed the former for eight runs and broke a potentially threatening partnership.
Pakistan could manage to score only 118 runs from their 18 overs, and India chased the target with 13 balls to spare.