Tottering at 11/3, it looked as if Australia would run away with the first ODI at Chennai but a stable partnership between Jadhav and Rohit ensured that India were back on track and ready to post a fighting total against the mighty Aussies.
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But in order to get a massive total on board, something in excess of 275, someone from the middle order needed to provide India with a flurry of boundaries, someone who could open the flood gates and provide the Indian innings with some much needed momentum.
And while everyone expected MS Dhoni to take up the role of the accelerator, it was Hardik Pandya who came to the party, allowing Dhoni to play the role of the sheet anchor and taking it upon himself to up the ante during the middle overs.
https://twitter.com/Cricvids1/status/909374512122052609
It was the 33rd over when Hardik Pandya decided to unleash, taking Adam Zampa for a ride, hitting 3 consecutive sixes(and a four before that) to provide some much needed impetus to the Indian innings.
Hardik Pandya’s clean, six-hitting ability will come in very handy for India in the limited overs format, as they now have two great strikers of the ball in the lower order(Dhoni and Pandya).
India look to be on track to getting at least 275 on the board, with Dhoni unleashing himself in the final 4. A very interesting chase is on the cards. Do tune in.