The focus light remains on Virat Kohli currently, and deservedly so, but Hardik Pandya also played a starring role in India’s victory over neighbors Pakistan in a one-for-the-ages game the two sides played out on Sunday at the MCG to kick off their respective T20 World Cup 2022 campaign.
It was Pakistan who thrashed India last year, and they were on their way to doing it again when they had India reeling at 31/4 in the chase of 160. But Pandya and Kohli joined hands to forge an epic partnership of 131 runs in 78 balls.
Pandya, who had taken 3 wickets with the ball, got out after scoring 40 runs, but Kohli saw through the chase – like he’s done so many times in the past decade – remaining unbeaten on 82, scored off 53 balls, and ranked it as his best T20 knock for India.
After the victory and having had the time to soak in all the emotions, Pandya and Kohli sat together to have a chat that moved the viewers as they recalled their partnership.
No one is better at handling pressure than you: Hardik Pandya tells Kohli
Pandya said that when he walked in the middle – with the required rate over 9 – his aim was just to not let the pressure of run rate come onto Kohli and to help Kohli take the game deep.
“When I was coming in to bat, you saw it. I would have taken a bullet for you but not let you get out at that point in time. My goal was simple. Your life had to be easy because you have done it over the years in crucial games. And no one is better at handling pressure than you. I just wanted to play and didn’t want either of us to get out,” Pandya told Kohli.
Even when India needed 48 off 18 balls, Hardik said the belief didn’t waver.
“Though we had players to come and who could help us win the game, which they eventually did. But for me it was important that you and I stayed. I believed that we could do it, even when 40 were needed off 3 overs, even when we were missing the ball, I knew one of us will pull off something special,” the 29-year-old added.
India take on the Netherlands on Thursday at the SCG.
