Hardik Pandya’s All-Round Brilliance Powers India to Victory in Second T20I Against Bangladesh
New Delhi: Hardik Pandya showcased his exceptional all-round abilities in India’s emphatic victory over Bangladesh in the second T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi.
Pandya’s batting prowess was on full display as he smashed 32 runs off just 19 deliveries, providing a much-needed boost to India’s total of 221/9. His innings was characterized by aggressive strokeplay and intelligent shot selection.
However, it was Pandya’s fielding brilliance that truly stole the show. In the 16th over of Bangladesh’s chase, Rishad attempted to clear the boundary off Varun Chakravarty’s bowling. Pandya, stationed at long-on, displayed remarkable athleticism and anticipation to cover the distance and take a stunning running catch.
Rishad’s dismissal proved to be a crucial moment in the match, as it halted Bangladesh’s momentum and put India firmly in control. Chakravarty, who finished with figures of 2/19 in his four overs, played a pivotal role in restricting Bangladesh’s scoring.
Earlier, India’s batters had set a challenging target for Bangladesh. Nitish Kumar Reddy and Rinku Singh led the charge with half-centuries, while Pandya’s late cameo provided the finishing touches.
Despite a shaky start, with India losing three wickets for just 41 runs, Reddy and Singh forged a crucial 108-run partnership to revive the innings. Reddy scored 52 off 36 balls, while Singh contributed 50 off 34 deliveries.
Bangladesh’s bowlers struggled to contain India’s aggressive batting, with Mustafizur Rahman being the only exception. The left-arm pacer claimed three wickets for 33 runs in his four overs.
In the end, India’s all-round dominance proved too much for Bangladesh, who were restricted to 153/6 in their 20 overs. The victory gives India a 2-0 lead in the three-match series, with the final match scheduled to be played in Kolkata on Saturday.
