Hardik Pandya’s batting has consistently put India in a good position. Skipper Rohit Sharma praised the talent of his team’s biggest ‘X-Factor’ in white-ball cricket after his fifty against Bangladesh almost secured ‘Men in Blue’ a spot in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup. Pandya, scoring the first half-century by an Indian No. 6 in a T20 World Cup game, also took a wicket in the team’s 50-run Super 8s win against Bangladesh. So far, Pandya has scored 89 runs in three innings with a strike-rate of 141 and has taken eight wickets.
Rohit emphasized Pandya’s crucial role, stating, “His batting well puts us in a good stead. If he can keep doing that, it will put us in good positions.” He also acknowledged the contribution of other Indian batters in the match, expressing satisfaction with their intent and performance.
Reflecting on the game, Rohit highlighted the importance of all batters playing their roles and credited the team’s adaptability to the conditions. He also acknowledged the impact of the wind factor in the Caribbean islands, emphasizing the team’s smart execution with both bat and ball.
Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto admitted that his team gave away at least 30 runs more than the par-score and conceded that they lacked the required intent in their batting approach, especially in the initial overs of their chase.
