Sunil Gavaskar was delighted with Hardik Pandya’s ‘calculated assault’

After losing the fourth ODI at the Seddon Park in Hamilton, India found themselves in trouble at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington as they were reduced to 18/4 in the 10th over. However, Ambati Rayudu and the rest of the middle order helped the hosts make a comeback. The final kick was provided by Hardik Pandya, who scored 45 from 22 balls and propelled his team’s score to 252 in 50 overs.

He came to bat in the 44th over and took singles to get his inning moving. In the 47th over, he laid into leg-spinner Todd Astle and smacked him for three consecutive sixes. He also deposited the Black Caps’ fast bowler Trent Boult over deep mid-wicket for a gigantic over-boundary. In the penultimate over, the 26-year-old took on pacer James Neesham before getting out to a full-toss in the last ball of the over.

Pandya was magnificent to watch

Pandya’s knock was laced with two boundaries and five hits over the ropes. In the meantime, former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar feels that the Baroda all-rounder was pretty calculated in his approach. Gavaskar mentioned that Pandya didn’t try and go after everything and his knock added to India’s confidence.

“There was no desperate hitting today at all. It was a calculated assault. It was magnificent to watch, it was delightful to watch. He [Hardik], with those hits, apart from the runs that have been added also lifts the mood in the dressing room. He has got those 40-50 extra runs,” the 69-year-old Gavaskar was quoted as saying in Star Sports.

Pandya came to bat at as low as number eight and while Gavaskar justified the reasons behind the batsman being sent lower than Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav, he remarked that Pandya could be sent higher up the order in order for India to add 25 to 45 runs.

“Yes, this is exactly what the Indian team wants from him. That is the reason, he was held back and Vijay Shankar and Kedar Jadhav were sent ahead. But sometimes, why not give him a few more overs? Instead of the last 10 overs, if he gets to bat may 15 overs, those extra five overs could mean another 25 or even 45 runs,” he added.

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