Hardik Pandya, on Sunday, played a blinder of an innings to help Mumbai Indians post a mammoth total of 195 for 5 against Rajasthan Royals in the stipulated 20 overs. The allrounder took the Royals bowlers to the cleaner, slamming 60 off just 21 balls as he scored his first fifty of the tournament.
The right-handed batsman had come out to bat at the end of the 13th over when the score was 101 for 4 and Mumbai Indians had just lost their stand-in skipper Kieron Pollard. Hardik Pandya started slowly as he managed to take just eight singles of the first 9 balls he faced.
But what followed thereafter was total carnage as he blew away the Royals. He changed his gears right at the end of the innings when Ankit Rajpoot came to bowl the 18th over. The Mumbai Indians star slammed the pacer for four sixes in the over to race away to 33 from 14 balls in a blink of an eye.
The 19th over bowled by Jofra Archer yielded just three runs before Hardik Pandya hit Kartik Tyagi for two sixes and three fours in the final over. He completed his fifty off just 20 balls in the final over. His stunning knock was studded with 2 fours and seven sixes.
It was his knock that helped Mumbai Indians post 195. At the end of the 17th over, the score was only 138 for 4 before Hardik Pandya changed gears and powered his team to the formidable total. He was well supported by Saurabh Tiwary who scored 34 off 25.
The cricketing fraternity was quick to lavish praise on the allrounder for his belligerent knock.
Here are some of the reactions to Hardik Pandya’s knock:
Some unbelievable power hitting from @hardikpandya7 is always a treat to watch!! @IPL @mipaltan #MIvsRR #IPL2020
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R) October 25, 2020
Hardik Pandya “remember the name “ 💪
— Sheldon Jackson (@ShelJackson27) October 25, 2020
Just wow! @hardikpandya7 pic.twitter.com/clJ0NEcZwd
— Mitchell McClenaghan (@Mitch_Savage) October 25, 2020
Brilliantly paced innings by @hardikpandya7. Played some amazing shots! #RRvMI
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt) October 25, 2020
This is “Pandya time”, No Hardik swagat for bowlers!😀 #IPLinUAE #IPL2020
— R P Singh रुद्र प्रताप सिंह (@rpsingh) October 25, 2020
I have been lucky to have seen @hardikpandya7 play a few sensational innings. But even by those standards, this was astonishing. Very very special. He is a rare talent
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 25, 2020
I have been lucky to have seen @hardikpandya7 play a few sensational innings. But even by those standards, this was astonishing. Very very special. He is a rare talent
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) October 25, 2020
Jasprit Bumrah & Hardik Pandya have been the most exciting players to come out of Indian Cricket in the last 5 years.
— Gabbbar (@GabbbarSingh) October 25, 2020
Nobody, literally nobody.
Le, Hardik Pandya. #MIvsRR pic.twitter.com/04atCdZdTW
— Ahmed Shaikh 🏹 (@Ashaikhalam) October 25, 2020
Smashing innings by @hardikpandya7 – whatta finisher- 60*(21) Boom Boom 💥 💥 -well played champion
— Riteish Deshmukh (@Riteishd) October 25, 2020
Is it still addressed as batting ? Hardik Pandya … smashing the ball ‘again’ to different parts of the ground with complete control. Lusty blows 👊🏻💪🏻 @hardikpandya7 #Mi 👏🏻🙌🏻
— Anjum Chopra (@chopraanjum) October 25, 2020