Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya impressed one and all with his brilliant counter-attacking knock of 42 runs, which helped team India seeal the three-match T20i series by winning the second match. The Men in Blue needed 14 runs off the final over and Hardik Pandya was able to finish the game in style by hitting two back to back sixes.
Hardik Pandya seals it for #TeamIndia.
INDIA WIN by 6 wickets and clinch the T20I series 2-0.#AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/Hx3YfmukEr
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 6, 2020
Australian coach Justin Langer was highly impressed with his match-winning performance for India. With this win, Showering praises on Pandya, Justin Langer feels that he has played extremely well under pressure against the Australian bowlers. He said:
“It was an incredible spectacle of a game. We know how dangerous he (Pandya) is. In the past, we had MS Dhoni and the way he (Pandya) played today. He has played really well all summer so, obviously, it was a great innings in the end there,”
He added:
“I thought the whole game was a very close one. Our fielding was absolutely incredible, it was electric to watch, but India with their experienced T20 players ,were too good for us today,”
Apart from Hardik Pandya, the batting line-up of team India gave the Australian bowlers a tough time. Talking about the Indian skipper, Virat Kohli played a few stunning shots and scored 40 runs off just 24 balls but he couldn’t take the team to the finish line.
Virat Kohli ?️ “I’ll send @ABdeVilliers17 a text tonight, and I’ll see what he thinks of that shot.”
— Wisden India (@WisdenIndia) December 6, 2020
Justin Langer also heaped praises on the performance of the Indian skipper and the way he pulled off a few shots. He feels that team India got a good opening partnership, which helped them set the momentum. He said:
“Some of Virat (Kohli’s) shots, I have said for years he (Kohli) is the best player I have probably ever seen. Some of the shots he played tonight were extraordinary and (they got a) good opening partnership and got over the line,”
Meanwhile, the third T20I between India and Australia will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground on December 8.
