The Indian team bounced back with style in the third T20I of the 5-match T20I series as it defeated West Indies by 7 wickets. With this win, India kept the series alive and now it will need to win both the remaining matches in order to win the series.
The third T20I was played yesterday at the Providence Stadium, Guyana, and after winning the toss, the hosts decided to bat first. While opener Brandon King played a useful innings of 42 runs, Rovman Powell played a quick knock of 40 runs for which he played only 19 balls and his innings included 1 four and 3 sixes.
West Indies gave a competitive target of 160 to the Indian team after they scored 159/5 in their stipulated 20 overs but once again the Indian side didn’t get a good start as Yashasvi Jaiswal (1 run) and Shubman Gill (6 runs) got out early. But Suryakumar Yadav was in no mood to see his team getting defeated and he once again showed the whole world why he is called the number one T20 batter. SKY was in a terrific form as he played a smashing knock of 83 runs for which he faced 44 deliveries and his innings included 10 fours & 4 sixes. He got good support from the young cricketer Tilak Varma who remained unbeaten at the score of 49 runs.
India achieved the target with 7 wickets in hand and 13 balls remaining in their innings. While Hardik Pandya got slammed heavily after India lost the first two T20Is to West Indies, he is still getting slammed after India won the third T20I in a comfortable manner.
It all happened because after Suryakumar Yadav got out, it was Sanju Samson who should have come to bat but Hardik Pandya promoted himself up the order and then he smashed a six when India needed 2 runs of the 14 balls despite the fact that Tilak Varma needed only one run to complete his fifty.
There is no denying the fact that personal milestones hold no importance in a team game but still when you need to score 2 runs on 14 balls to win the match, you can give a chance to a player who needs just 1 runs to complete his fifty.
The online users started slamming Hardik Pandya and many called him pathetic, selfish and a shameless captain. Here are some selected reactions:
Some great Indian Captains #WIvsIND #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/tXWvgdtq5V
— Ministry Of Sarcasm (@M_OfSarcasm) August 8, 2023
Most Punchable Face Right now!
Hardik Pandya is the most SELFISH Player i have ever seen!
Oh Tilak 💔 pic.twitter.com/abNhCAP73a
— ᴘʀᴀᴛʜᴍᴇsʜ⁴⁵ (@45Fan_Prathmesh) August 8, 2023
Hardik Pandya is the most Clutch Player of India. pic.twitter.com/tV6pdL8lkJ
— ` (@rahulmsd_91) August 9, 2023
Wise words from our great captain Hardik Pandya #WIvsIND #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/SrHDgz2qzC
— Ministry Of Sarcasm (@M_OfSarcasm) August 8, 2023
https://twitter.com/bala45_rohit/status/1688983027589025792
Ab na waisa emotion raha cricket mein aur na waisi sportsmanship.
After what Hardik Pandya did with Tilak Varma everyone started missing this beautiful moment between MSD and Virat🤝#HardikPandya #TilakVarma #INDvWI #WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/17cMcauyz7— Deepak Phogat (@deepakphogat30) August 9, 2023
Hardik Pandya stared angrily and said something to Tilak for denying 2nd run to Hardik on 17.2 delivery 🤬https://t.co/Odt5fXLR2t
— 𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬⁴⁵ (@NewGodOfCricket) August 8, 2023
Shame on Hardik Pandya for not letting #TilakVarma complete his 50#WIvsIND pic.twitter.com/DE3DatfAvE
— Ctrl C Ctrl Memes (@Ctrlmemes_) August 8, 2023
Tilak Varma needed one run to score his fifty and Hardik Pandya hit a six to win the game.
Your thoughts?🤔#INDvsWI #WIvsIND #TilakVarma #HardikPandyapic.twitter.com/gBdIDjps3e
— Abdullah Neaz (@Neaz__Abdullah) August 8, 2023
Rohit Sharma's Humbleness and selflessness is the Reason he have Devotees!!
SELFISH Hardik Pandya can never become a person like Rohit Sharma! pic.twitter.com/6q5Wteyznv
— ᴘʀᴀᴛʜᴍᴇsʜ⁴⁵ (@45Fan_Prathmesh) August 9, 2023
Everyone's talking about Hardik Pandya & how Dhoni let Virat score final runs –
Here's a throwback video –
When King Kohli 👑 defended the ball, just to let Gayle score his maiden 💯 in IPL ❤https://t.co/eZCKQDKtYL
— 🇵🇰 Muhammad Noor 🇵🇰 (@Noor_Marriiii) August 8, 2023
Hardik Pandya Warra Fraud 😡😡🤬🤬🤬, First Came Before Samson To Steal Credit In A Easy Game And Also Ate Tilak's Fifty , You Aren't A Captaincy Material But A Credit Stealer And A Selfish Smuggler
— Chinmay Shah (@chinmayshah28) August 8, 2023
Hardik pandya is the most selfish captain india has ever had, came to bat ahead of Sanju samson when chase was easy and at the end couldn't let young Tilak verma score a fifty. #INDvWI
— Rafaz (@RafazTweets) August 8, 2023
The fourth T20I will be played on 12 August at Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium, Lauderhill, Florida which is the only dedicated cricket stadium in the USA.
What is your take on this matter? What do you think of Hardik’s act? Do let us know.
