Much was expected from Baroda all-rounder Hardik Pandya, in the semis of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy vs Mumbai, but the star failed to deliver on Friday, at least with the bat. Hardik was dismissed by fellow all-rounder Shivam Dube, after scoring five from six deliveries, leaving his side in a spot of bother at 89/5.
This is Hardik Pandya’s third consecutive failure with the bat in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, where returned with scores of 0, 10, and now 5. Otherwise, the junior Pandya had shown tremendous form with the bat prior to these failures — scoring 74, 41, 69, and 47. With the ball too, he shone in patches, picking up five wickets in six matches.
Hardik Pandya’s small innings at number six
Hardik Pandya took to the crease at the sixth position following the departure of opener Shashwat Rawat, who contributed 33 runs to the scoreboard. However, Pandya’s time at the crease was cut short by Shivam Dube in the 14th over.
Dube, bowling from over the wicket, delivered a slower ball targeting Pandya’s body. The Indian all-rounder attempted to play across the line but only managed to get a leading edge. The ball popped up and went straight back to Dube, who completed an easy catch. This dismissal came as a disappointment for Pandya, who had barely settled in before falling victim to Dube’s clever bowling. The wicket was a crucial breakthrough for the bowling side, denying Pandya the opportunity to make a significant impact on the innings.
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Krunal Pandya’s valuable contribution
Krunal Pandya, the younger sibling of Hardik Pandya and captain of the side, made a positive impact batting at number 3. He managed to score 30 runs off 24 deliveries, including four boundaries, giving a solid foundation for the team’s innings.
However, his promising knock came to an end in the 10th over. Suryansh Shedge claimed Krunal’s wicket with a well-executed delivery. Attempting to play a cover drive, Krunal got a thick edge, and the ball flew straight to the waiting hands of Hardik Tamore. Despite falling short of a big score, Krunal’s innings was crucial in maintaining the team’s momentum.
