Srinagar: Former India greats led by Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag have hailed Hardik Pandya for laters fantastic all-round that sealed five wicket win for India over Pakistan in Asia Cup 2022 in Dubai on Sunday.
Hardik Pandya starred with both bat as India beat Pakistan in a closely fought encounter.
Former players including legendary Sachin Tendulkar heaped praise on Pandya’s show with the bat and ball as they congratulated the team for the win.
“It came down to fitness of the fast bowlers while put under pressure, though both teams’ pacers bowled well upfront. Crucial knock by Hardik to stay till the end & get us over the line & ably supported by @imjadeja & Virat. Congrats 🇮🇳 on a nail-biting win,” Sachin Tendulkar tweeted.
“Wow wow wow ! Fantastic Hardik Pandya. Sab kuchh main karega. Brilliant performance by Bhuvi, good hand by Jaddu and Kohli as well. Glad to see a close #INDvsPAK match after a long time. Mast maza aa gaya,” tweeted Virender Sehwag.
“A high voltage contest these #INDvPAK games, and the boys have shown tremendous composure and character. Very well played to begin the Asia Cup with a remarkable win,” said VVS Laxman.
“Memorable win this, an outstanding win for Team India. Hardik Pandya really special with both bat and ball. Bhuvi showing his class with the ball and great support by the whole team. Many congratulations Team India,” tweeted Venkatesh Prasad.
Chasing 148, India got off to a bad start as they lost their opener, KL Rahul, without even scoring a run.
After that Kohli was back to the pavilion after scoring 35 runs in 34 deliveries, which had Jadeja and Suryakumar Yadav keeping the scoreboard ticking. In the last over Nawaz gave a big blow to the Indian team as he dismissed Jadeja after scoring 35 runs in 29 balls. But Pandya then smashed a huge six on the fourth delivery of the last ball and took his team home by five wickets.
Later Pandya said that he would have fancied chasing even 15 in last over as pressure is always on bowler.
“In a chase like this, you always plan over-by-over. I always knew that there is one young bowler (Naseem or Shahnawaz Dahani) and also one left-arm spinner (Nawaz),” Pandya said after the match.
“We only needed 7 off the last over but even if we needed 15, I’d have fancied myself. I know the bowler is under more pressure than me in the 20th over. I try to keep things simple.”