Hardik Pandya scores 34-ball 91: Twitter went crazy for Mumbai Indians all-rounder’s bonkers innings at Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
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During the 47th match of the ongoing 12th season of the Indian Premier League between Kolkata Knight Riders and Mumbai Indians at Kolkata, Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a near-impossible game-changing innings.
Coming in to bat at No. 6 in the ninth over, Hardik Pandya hit his first six on the second ball that he faced. Taking on leg-spinner Piyush Chawla, Hardik Pandya hit him for another six in the same over. It was at this point in time that the right-hand batsman gave signs of what ended up as a frenzy.
While he hit Knight Riders all-rounder Sunil Narine for a six in the following over, he hit another couple of sixes off Chawala in his subsequent over. Despite MI all-rounder Kieron Pollard (20) getting out in the 14th over, Pandya continued hitting sixes against everyone who was introduced into the attack.
On the next ball after Pollard was dismissed, Pandya hit another six to complete a 17-ball half-century, joint-fastest for Mumbai Indians.
There is no denying to the fact that KKR captain Dinesh Karthik was found wanting for options in a bid to counter Pandya’s attack. Had KKR not posted a total as big as 232/2, Hardik Pandya would have taken his team to victory comfortably.
Before getting out in the 18th over, Hardik ended up scoring 91 (34) with the help of six fours and nine sixes to culminate his bonkers innings. Having eventually posted 198/7 in their allotted quota of 20 overs, Mumbai ended up losing the match by 34 runs.
How Twitter reacted:
Least balls/six in IPL 2019 (5+ sixes):
4.68 – Russell (50 sixes)
6.63 – PANDYA (27)
7.82 – Moeen (17)
8.00 – Pollard (18)
8.56 – Gayle (32)
9.56 – Narine (9)
9.60 – Pooran (5)
10.81 – ABD (26)Pandya only Indian! #KKRvMI
— Bharath Seervi (@SeerviBharath) April 28, 2019
of the 34 balls he faced hardik hit 15 either to the boundary or over it. 78 of 91 runs in boundaries. he is an exceptional talent. #KKRvMI
— Gaurav Kalra (@gauravkalra75) April 28, 2019
Chottte Pandya jaisa koi Hardiiiich nahin hain .. bohot hard @hardikpandya7 .. That was special boy #KKRvMI
— Jatin Sapru (@jatinsapru) April 28, 2019
Pun Diya ! Incredible innings from Hardik #KKRvMI
— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag) April 28, 2019
Russell got 80 off 40. Hardik got 91 off 34. Take the praise you gave Russell and add another 25-30% to it, that’s what Kung Fu Pandya did today. What an effort! 🙌🔥
— Gaurav Kapur (@gauravkapur) April 28, 2019
Outstanding hitting @hardikpandya7 class 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh) April 28, 2019
@hardikpandya7 falls after playing among the finest knocks seen ever in the IPL. Well done 👏👏. Suspect Mumbai’s aspirations of winning the match now snuffed out
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) April 28, 2019
Ridiculous Batting skills … @hardikpandya7 91 off 34 balls !!!! #ipl2019
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) April 28, 2019
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