Pandya's All-Round Masterclass Seals Series and a New Record
Indian cricket's dynamic all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, etched his name into the record books on Friday, surpassing the legendary Yuvraj Singh. During the fifth and final T20 International against South Africa in Bengaluru, Pandya achieved a unique double, becoming the Indian with the most instances of scoring a half-century and taking at least one wicket in the same T20I match.
A Destructive Innings and a Crucial Wicket
Capitalizing on a fiery start provided by openers Sanju Samson (37 off 22) and Abhishek Sharma (34 off 21), Pandya unleashed a brutal assault on the Proteas bowling. Partnering with Tilak Varma, who scored a fine 73, Pandya added a match-defining 105-run stand for the fourth wicket. The stand propelled India to a formidable total of 231 for 5.
Pandya's own contribution was a blistering 63 not out from a mere 25 deliveries. His innings was studded with five fours and five sixes, compiled at a staggering strike rate of 252.00. Later, with the ball, he conceded 41 runs in his three overs but claimed the pivotal wicket of the dangerous Dewald Brevis. Brevis was threatening to chase down the target with a rapid 31 off 17 balls before Pandya dismissed him.
Surpassing a Legend and Joining Elite Company
This performance marked the fourth time Pandya has achieved the half-century-plus-wicket double in T20Is for India, moving him one ahead of Yuvraj Singh's three such feats. The elite list also features modern great Virat Kohli, who has done it twice—against Pakistan in the 2012 T20 World Cup and versus the West Indies in 2016. Shivam Dube also has two such performances to his name.
Marking a strong return to international cricket, Pandya finished the series as India's third-highest run-scorer with 142 runs in three innings, boasting an average of 71.00 and a strike rate of 186.84. He also chipped in with three wickets, though his economy rate remained on the higher side.
India Clinch Series 3-1
In the match, South Africa, after winning the toss and choosing to field, were set a target of 232. Despite a fluent 65 off 35 balls from Quinton de Kock, the visitors lost wickets at regular intervals after Brevis's dismissal. They were eventually restricted to 201 for 8, handing India a 30-run victory. Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (4/53) were the chief wreckers with the ball.
For his game-changing all-round show, Hardik Pandya was rightly awarded the Player of the Match. Spinner Varun Chakravarthy, for his series haul, was named Player of the Series as India sealed a convincing 3-1 series triumph.
