On a day when most of the Indian batsmen found it difficult to even g𒆙et to double digits on a bouncy track at the Newlands in Cape Town, Hardik Pandya rekindled India’s hopes of a fightback with classic counter-attacking innings.
In the 52nd 🦄over of the Indian innings, Pandya brought up his second Test fifty of just 46 balls. Under the current circumstances Pandya’s knock is invaluable but what was also stands out is the way he took the attack to the bowlers and hit 10 boundaries in his innings.
Earlier, Pand🎀ya was given a life after he was dropped on 15 by Dean Elgar off the bowling of Morne Morkel. But from thereon he put the pressure back on the bowlers and trusting his instincts kept playing his shots.
Against a fearsome attack comprising of D♏ale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada Pandya, Hardik also registered the highest score of 93 in the Indian innings.
Fans on Twitter went crazy after watching Pandya’s fearless knock and hailed him while trolling the top order of the batting line-up.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Enjoying watching this uncomplicated, uninhibited batting from Hardik Pandya. Look💦ing like a batsman.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha)
Hardik Pandya now has the highest score in this test. Against an attack that reads Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Rabada.
Let that sink in!— Shrikant (@HomerOpines)
Tragic that couldn't reach century. But this knock of breathtaking bravado and brilliance will be long remembered
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah)
Well played p𓂃layed his natural game & as what was said earlier,wasn’t looking to survive ..
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial)
//twitter.com/ImRo450/status/949645473110872064
//twitter.com/Gujju_Kinjal/status/9496🗹♚38666393022465
Hardik Pandya clearly has the commitment. Just hope the other key top order batsmen can do the same after first innings failure. Come on Team India, you can do iඣt.
— Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल (@_anujsinghal)
Hardik Pandya is as mad as Virender Sehwag.
Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing 😋
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover)
Brilliant counter attack by 🔯 .Huge advantage 𝓰to have all rounder like him in test line up .
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews)
Hardik Pandya Test Career:
50 vs SL in SL
20 vs SL in SL
108 vs SL in SL
93 vs SA in SAPlayed only four innings so far!
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
//twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/949625340707594240
Two good knocks of Hardik Pandya in Tests and Ravindra Jadeja wasn't playing both the matches. 😂😂
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer)
//twitter.com/SamreenR𓆏azzaqui/status/949621520627777536