IND vs WI: "Game-Changing Moment" - Aakash Chopra On Hardik Pandya's Dismissal In First T20I

Former Indian cricketer Aakash Chopra thinks Hardik Pandya’s dismissal in the first ODI was the turning point of the game and one of the key reasons behind India‘s loss in the first T20I.

India required 37 off 30 deliveries with Hardik Pandya (19) and Sanju Samson (12) still at the crease. Both were dismissed in a space of two balls in the 16th over. First Hardik was castled by Jason Holder and then Samson was run out from a direct hit by Kyle Mayers.

Aakash Chopra while reviewing the first T20I on his Youtube channel said that Jason Holder rightly deserved the Man of the Match award as he dismissed Pandya at the right time.

Jason Holder Dismissed Hardik Pandya At The Right Time: Aakash Chopra

“Who was the Player of the Match? Jason Holder was given the award and I would say it was the right call because the wicket Jason Holder took of Hardik Pandya, it came at just the right time. It was the game-changing moment,” said Chopra.

He further said that India were in a comfortable position to win the first T20I heading into the final five overs.

“The ball came in after pitching and went and hit the stumps. The way Hardik was batting and for how long he was batting, it seemed like the match was in your grasp, because at the 16-over mark, India needed 7.5 runs per over to win,” Chopra elaborated.

As said earlier, India needed 37 off 30 balls before Holder dismissed Pandya and the run out of Samson meant India’s chances of winning went down considerably.

“The captain was present there and Sanju Samson was at the other end. It seemed like you will turn the match easily in your favor, one big over and that would be it, but Jason Holder was absolutely outstanding. So the Player of the Match is, of course, Jason Holder,” Chopra concluded saying.

The next two T20Is will be played in Guyana (August 6 and 8). The final two T20Is will be played at Lauderhill, in Florida (August 12, 13).