So far in his captaincy career, Hardik Pandya has generally been a calm skipper and has donned a composed demeanor on the field, which has even eked out comparisons with the great MS Dhoni. However, during the 2nd T20I against Sri Lanka, Pandya showcased some of his angry emotions, and it was young wicket-keeper Ishan Kishan who bore the brunt of Pandya’s anger.
In the second T20I of the series, at the MCA Stadium in Pune, Sri Lanka had been given a solid start by their openers, Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis, before leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, in the 9th over, broke the 80-run stand, dismissing Mendis lbw.
However, Chahal and India needed help from the third umpire via a review after the on-field umpire had given not out to a vociferous appeal from Chahal and Ishan Kishan.
To a full ball, Mendis lunged forward to nudge it to the leg side, but the ball beat the inside edge of the bat and struck Mendis on his front pad. India’s huge appeal was denied by the umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal. Chahal and Kishan began discussing the prospect of taking a review among themselves.
As Kishan was chatting with Chahal, skipper Hardik Pandya, standing at short leg, fumed, wanting to get Kishan’s attention regarding the review. Pandya even shouted at Kishan for not involving himself in the review discussion with Chahal. The keeper and bowler soon concluded and indicated Pandya to take the review, which proved a correct decision as the on-field umpire’s call of not out was reversed by the third umpire.
The video of Hardik Pandya shouting at Ishan Kishan has gone viral:
ओहो ओहो pic.twitter.com/lTb9S1CbyE
— MohiCric (@MohitKu38157375) January 5, 2023
Sri Lanka’s power-hitting, and India’s poor bowling and their plight with the no-balls continued even after Mendis’ wicket as the visitors ended with a giant total of 206/6, courtesy of Dasun Shanaka’s late flourish. The Sri Lankan captain hammered 56 runs off only 22 balls to power his side over 200,
