6,6,6,6,6,4! Hardik Pandya goes berserk, blasts maiden List-A ton in 68 balls after NZ ODIs snub

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya stunned with a solid performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy game against Vidharba in the fifth round of the domestic tournament. The batter scored his maiden List A hundred coming down the order and chased the milestone in some style.

Hardik Pandya made his return to international cricket following a month-long injury, which ruled him out of the tour to Australia. After playing all the matches in the T20I series against South Africa, Pandya has been asked to rest for the upcoming ODI series against New Zealand.

Hardik Pandya, the all-rounder, has been asked to sit out for New Zealand as the selectors want him fresh for the T20I series and the T20 World Cup that follows the New Zealand series. However, Pandya has decided to feature in the Vijay Hazare Trophy in the meantime.

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Hardik Pandya smashes maiden List A hundred ahead of ICC T20 World Cup

Hardik Pandya returned to feature for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Pandya played for them in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and also played a fine hand for India in their wins against South Africa in the opening and the final game of the series.

The veteran all-rounder's comeback match has tested him to the core, as Baroda batters struggled to score runs at the top. Pandya came in at no. 7 and batted relentlessly for his maiden List A century.

In the 39th over of the game against Parth Rekhade, Hardik Pandya scored 34 runs in the over with five sixes and a boundary to end the over. Pandya was on 66 off just 62 balls before the start of the over and then reached his maiden hundred in 68 balls.

6,6,6,6,6,4 BY HARDIK PANDYA TO COMPLETE HUNDRED FROM JUST 68 BALLS IN VIJAY HAZARE TROPHY 🥶

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Hardik Pandya wreaks havoc with his highest List A score

The Indian all-rounder Pandya not only returned to domestic 50-over cricket for Baroda but also produced a stunning innings on return. Pandya, who got to his hundred off just 68 balls, finished on a final score of 133 off 92 balls with 8 fours and 11 sixes under his belt.

The stupendous innings from Pandya came while batting alongside the tailenders from Baroda, since the entire batting order collapsed in front of the Vidharba pace attack. Yash Thakur picked 4 wickets in the game, and all credit to the tailenders and Hardik that Baroda could bat for 50 overs in their innings.

Pandya has shown reliability, and it would be much needed, as he would also be eyeing to ensure his role within the Indian ODI side after the end of the T20 World Cup.

Hardik would next play for India in the T20I series against New Zealand

After playing a handful of matches with Baroda, Pandya will join the Indian camp to prepare for the five-match T20I series against New Zealand. The Blackcaps arrive in India ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup to get an idea of the subcontinent tracks.

Pandya is a crucial all-rounder for India and will have a key role to play in India's title defence in the home World Cup. He also had a major role to play in India's ICC T20 World Cup triumph in 2024, where he bowled the final over and dismissed Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the match.

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