Hardik Pandya opened up about his injury during the Asia Cup 2018 against Pakistan. He recovered from it and then defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2022. India played its first game of the Asia Cup with Pakistan. It was a great game where India finally took revenge for the defeat India faced in the same venue ten months back.
Hardik Pandya was the player of the match due to his excellent performance in both departments. He took three wickets and made 33 runs off 17 balls. Pandya gave the final shot over the heads of Pakistani fielders in a six and won the match for India.
The BCCI shared a video, where Hardik was chatting with Ravindra Jadeja about their performances and forthcoming. “I was remembering it all. I was stretchered off at the same venue against the same opponent in the 2018 Asia Cup. You feel a sense of achievement because of the things that have happened in the past. Today I got an opportunity. The journey is beautiful. The fruits of our journey come to us, but behind the scenes, a lot of people do not get credit who walk along with us.” Pandya said in the video.
India had the target of 148 runs and before Hardik joined the pitch India was way behind its path. Pandya and Jadeja stood strong and made a 52 runs partnership before Ravindra got bowled at 35 runs. Pandya still continued his streak until the third-last ball, where he gave the finishing shot.
“I was thinking that seven runs in the final over is not that steep a challenge. The left-arm spinner was bowling and there were five fielders inside the ring. This all did not matter to me, even if there were ten fielders standing at the boundary, it would not have mattered. I had to hit a big shot. In the entire innings, I just showed emotion once and it was when you go out. I was not feeling the pressure as I knew the pressure was clearly on the bowler. I knew he would bowl back of a length delivery.”
Ravindra Jadeja also spoke a few words about the wonderful victory India had gained. “It was very important. I was promoted higher up the order. I was looking to take my chances against the spinners. We formed a partnership, it was important and we were chatting about backing our strengths.”
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