IND vs SA: Really Happy With The Way Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik Put Up A Show - Rishabh Pant
Indian team captain Rishabh Pant praised middle-order batters, Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik, for stitching what turned out to be the match-winning partnership in the 4th T20I in Rajkot.
After being put in to bat first, India was struggling at 40/3 and then 81/4. Hardik and Karthik then put together 65 in 33 balls with the latter even getting to his maiden T20I fifty.
The partnership changed the course of the game and India finished with an above-par total of 169 on a spicy Rajkot surface. South Africa was then bundled out for 87, their lowest T20I score to hand India an 82-run win.
“We talked about execution and playing better cricket and here are the results. Whichever team plays better cricket wins the game. Maybe I will toss with the right hand in the next game and be positive. Really happy with the way Hardik put up a show. DK went for the kill right away and that gave us the positivity,” Pant said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
“As an individual I can look to improve in certain areas” – Rishabh Pant
The series is level at 2-2 but India needs Pant to fire. He had a poor day at the office scoring just 17 runs in 23 balls, and struggling to get going before being dismissed by Keshav Maharaj.
“As an individual, I can look to improve in certain areas. Not too concerned though; looking to take the positives and looking to improve. Let’s see what happens in Bangalore. Looking forward to giving our 100%,” he further added.
The final game of the enthralling 5-match series will now be played in Bengaluru on Sunday at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
