‘Hardik Pandya Bharat ka Kohinoor hai’ – Fans rejoice after star all-rounder dismisses Australia’s top three batters in third ODI
India and Australia are battling it out for the final time in the series at Chennai for the decider. The contest is being played at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium. Australia called the coin right and elected to bat first. The strip was wheatish brown, and it looked like the best batting conditions in the series.
Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head zoomed off to a start as Head made 33 off 31 balls, with four fours and two sixes. Marsh made a stroke-filled run a ball 47 with eight fours and one six. Australia were running away with the game. India needed something special and Hardik Pandya stepped up to the occasion. He picked Head, who was caught by Kuldeep Yadav in the deep. The India all-rounder removed Marsh with peach and castled him. Pandya also accounted for Smith with a good ball. KL Rahul took the catch and Smith was caught behind.
Hardik Pandya had led India to series wins at home against Sri Lanka and New Zealand
It has been a busy time for Pandya as he led the T20I side at home against Sri Lanka and New Zealand. He won the series against the Islanders 3-0 and the Kiwis 2-1. Pandya had earlier led the Indian side in Ireland, where India routed the home side 2-0. Pandya also stood in for Rohit Sharma in the first ODI at Mumbai where the Men in Blue won by 5 wickets. There were reports that he would permanently lead the T20 side in place of Rohit but that has not materialised.
In the first ODI, the India all-rounder picked up Steve Smith’s wicket and also played a good hand of 25 off 31 balls with three fours and one six. In the game in Vizag, Pandya had an off day. With the bat, he made just 1 off 3 balls, and with the ball, he conceded 18 runs in his solitary over without picking a wicket. The Men in Blue lost to the Kangaroos by 10 wickets.
This is the last ODI series that India will play before the Indian T20 League. The National side will then play against Australia at the Oval in England. This is the second time that India will play the Test Championship final. They lost the first final in 2021 to the Blackcaps.
Let us take a look at the reactions on Twitter:
https://twitter.com/MrNikhilChawla/status/1638481693207310336?s=20
https://twitter.com/pervy_slayer/status/1638483793584566273?s=20
Hardik Pandya is on fire in 3rd ODI.
Meanwhile fans be like 🔥#INDvsAUS3rdodi #BCCI #Chepauk pic.twitter.com/QeYm9sOf2B
— Ashutosh Srivastava 🇮🇳 (@sri_ashutosh08) March 22, 2023
From 68/0 to 85/3 👀
Hardik Pandya has dismissed Australia’s top three in less than four overs!#INDvAUS | 📝: https://t.co/bXRH105WXF pic.twitter.com/CexiMTBK3U
— Ritesh Ghimire (@reeteshjee) March 22, 2023
The Big Match Player "Hardik Pandya" #INDvAUS #Chennai pic.twitter.com/f4dkvkibTz
— Vikash (@hey_imvikash) March 22, 2023
Marnus Labushchagne is another player who shouldn't be near to a white ball team. Australia losing momentum after getting such a good start, terrific day on the field for Hardik Pandya ! 🔥🔥#INDvAUS • @hardikpandya7
— 𝐒𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐛𝐡 𝐓𝐫𝐢𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 (@SaurabhTripathS) March 22, 2023
Thundering ⚡⚡⚡ Hardik pandya #INDvAUS
— Arpan Roy (@SportsArpan) March 22, 2023
https://twitter.com/abhinavj617/status/1638488476613242880?s=20
Hardik Pandya on fire 🔥🔥 #INDvAUS
— Goutam Baral (@GoutamBaral5) March 22, 2023
The MVP of Indian limited over team – Hardik Pandya. pic.twitter.com/J7IxgIEigI
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 22, 2023