Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin praised all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, for his brilliant innings in the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa that helped India win the match by 101 runs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “India were five down for literally nothing, from there they were able to score freely and get 170 plus. Hardik Pandya played a brilliant knock, it did not seem like he was coming back from an injury. He looked in pristine form, but South Africa did not have enough ammunition in their bank to restrict India.”
India lost early wickets and were in a spot of bother when Hardik came to the crease in the 12th over. The 32-year-old stitched three important partnerships to help India set a target of 176 for South Africa. He scored an unbeaten 59 off 28 balls, which included six fours and four sixes at a strike rate of 210.71. Then, with the ball also, he bagged one wicket.
Ashwin added that Hardik is irreplaceable for India at this moment.
“The power that Hardik Pandya has, especially against spin. That bat swing is something that I would trade anything for. After watching his innings, I feel like he is supremely confident. He is not thinking about how many wickets have fallen, how much his score is, and all that. The ball is there to hit, he is hitting it. He is very clear in the head, and he is very confident in the way he is batting. There is no replacement for Hardik in India at this point in time, and I hope we can really find one.”
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