Hardik Pandya with MS Dhoni. Photo: Hardik Pandya)
Hardik Pandya, India's star all-rounder, who is currently part of the T20I squad led by Suryakumar Yadav for the three-match series against Bangladesh is nearing the opportunity to surpass MS Dhoni's record. The second T20I, where this achievement may unfold is scheduled to be held at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi.
Hardik requires just one boundary to overtake former Indian captain MS Dhoni for the most fours hit by an Indian in T20Is. Additionally, Hardik has accumulated 1,562 runs in T20I cricket, and if he manages to score 56 runs in the T20I in Delhi, he will surpass MS Dhoni on the list of India’s most successful batters in this format.
The Mumbai Indians captain hit 39 runs off 16 deliveries in the first T20I against Bangladesh, held at Shrimant Madhavrao Scindia Cricket Stadium in Gwalior. He delivered a superb bowling performance, concluding with impressive figures of 1 for 26 in four overs, contributing to India's victory by seven wickets. The Men in Blue are currently ahead 1-0 in the three-match T20I series.
In the first T20I, Hardik set a new record by surpassing former captain Virat Kohli for the most T20I matches finished with a six. Hardik has concluded T20I games for India with a sixer five times, breaking Virat's previous record of four. With his wicket against Bangladesh, Hardik (87 wickets) surpassed pacer Arshdeep Singh (86 wickets) to become India’s fourth-highest wicket-taker in T20s. The top wicket-taker for India remains spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, with 96 wickets to his name.
India secured a seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in Gwalior, taking a 1-0 advantage in the three-match series. Hardik Pandya remained not out on 39 runs, while Varun Chakravarthy took three wickets.
Bangladesh opted to bat first, but things went terribly wrong for them. Liton Das was dismissed in the opening over, and the team continued to lose wickets at frequent intervals. Arshdeep Singh (3 for 14) and Varun Chakravarthy (3 for 31), playing his first match for India in nearly three years, inflicted most of the damage. During the innings, debutant Mayank Yadav managed to bowl a maiden over in his initial appearance in T20Is. For Bangladesh, Mehidy Hasan Miraz (35* off 32) was the sole batter who managed to withstand the onslaught, as the team was bowled out for a mere 127 runs.
India began their innings with an explosive start, thanks to Abhishek Sharma (15 off 6), who was run out in the second over. Sanju Samson (29 off 19), Suryakumar Yadav (29 off 14), and Hardik Pandya (39* off 16) maintained the momentum, allowing India to complete the chase in under 12 overs.
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