India’s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya stole the limelight as he threw a brilliant delivery to get rid of Pakistan captain Babar Azam during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023 Super 4 match between India and Pakistan on Monday.
Hardik Pandya Got Rid Of Babar Azam With A Lethal Delivery
Babar Azam looked uncomfortable against the swing bowling of Jasprit Bumrah however it was Hardik Pandya, who ended his stay at the crease.
The dismissal took place in the 100th over of the Pakistan innings, Hardik Pandya was able to produce a sharp in-swinging delivery that went right through Babar’s defense and crashed into the stumps. Azam could only score 10 runs off 24 balls before he made his way towards the dressing room.
Watch the video:
Pakistan lose their main man Babar Azam… 😔
A long way back for them now. #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/9qLUnJKBzs
— Cricket on TNT Sports (@cricketontnt) September 11, 2023
The celebration from Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli after Babar Azam's wicket. pic.twitter.com/wZhHnyC9mB
— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 11, 2023
Meanwhile, Younis, who is deemed one of the greats of the game, hailed Hardik Pandya for adjusting his game as per the playing conditions. The legendary cricketer said that Hardik learned by watching Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj’s approach to the new ball.
“It’s a luxury to have someone like him in the middle overs as he can bowl in all sorts of situations. He is smart and if the pitches are slow and flat, then he manages those slower deliveries and other variations. But when the ball is swinging around, he did exactly the same what Bumrah and Siraj did,” Younis was quoted as saying to Star Sports.
Younis lauded Hardik for forcing Babar to play down the wrong line. He added: “He asked Babar to play a little away from the body and that’s what you need. You need a small gap to go through. It was a beautiful delivery that seamed back,”
Earlier, India posted a total of 356/2 runs on the scoreboard, riding on the stellar knocks of batting legend Virat Kohli (122* runs) and returning batter KL Rahul (111* runs).
