Team India’s star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, created a record by ousting the legendary batter Virat Kohli for finishing most T20I matches with a six. This stunning record was achieved during the first T20I against Bangladesh in Gwalior, as Hardik showed his brilliance.
Hardik took to the bowling crease first, claiming one wicket for 26 runs in his four overs at an economy rate of 6.50. In this run chase of 128, he finally gave a grand finish to the match with an explosive 39 not out off 16 balls, featuring five fours and two sixes at a strike rate 243.75.
One of the shots that really stood out was the no-look ramp shot over the keeper’s head, which speaks volumes about how confidently and powerfully he muscled the ball to the boundary.
This inning also means that Hardik has finished five T20I matches for India with a six, going past Kohli’s earlier record of four.
He has surpassed pacer Arshdeep Singh, who has 86 scalps under his belt with his wicket in this match, as Pandya has taken 87 scalps to become India’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in T20Is. Spinner Yuzvendra Chahal leads the pack with 96 wickets.
In the game itself, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. During the Bangladesh innings, skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto made 27 off 25, while Mehidy Hasan Miraz scored 35 not out from 32 balls. But by and large, they could only struggle to a mere 127 runs that came by getting bowled out in 19.5 overs.
For India, Arshdeep Singh was the most successful bowler, returning with 3-14, while Varun Chakravarthy, making his comeback into the squad, returned with three for 31 runs. Hardik chipped in with one each with Mayank Yadav and Washington Sundar.
During the chase, There was a miscommunication regarding Abhishek Sharma, who got run out for 16 runs. However, Sanju Samson, who made 29 runs off 19 balls, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav-who scored 29 runs off just 14, formed a vital partnership of 40 runs for the second wicket.
Hardik then saw India home, sharing a 52-run partnership for the fourth wicket with debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made 16 not out.
Bangladesh bowlers, meanwhile, didn’t create much trouble, picking up only two wickets as Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy Hasan were the only successful visitors.
Arshdeep Singh was declared the ‘Player of the Match’ for his effective bowling, including the important wicket of Litton Das. This win puts India 1-0 up in the three-match series.
