NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya delivered a statement innings under pressure and a message of intent for the season ahead, smashing an unbeaten 59 off just 28 balls to fire India to a commanding 101-run win over South Africa in the first T20I at Cuttack on Tuesday. Named Player of the Match, Pandya walked in when India were wobbling, assessed a spicy surface shrewdly, and counterattacked with brute precision to lift India to 175/6 — a total that proved far beyond the visitors, who folded for 74 in 12.3 overs.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The all-rounder described the knock as a blend of instinct and composure. “I had to back my shots… the wicket had a bit of spice. You had to be a little gutsy. It was more about timing the ball, not trying to break the ball,” Pandya said, delighted with how he paced the innings.
His blitz also came as a reward for relentless work on his conditioning. Away from home, away from distractions, the 32-year-old spent nearly two months grinding at the National Cricket Academy to regain peak fitness. “These last 50 days, being away from your loved ones, spending time at the NCA, making sure everything is covered… it’s very satisfying when you come here and the results follow,” he reflected.But if there was one line that defined his night, it was his declaration of purpose. “It doesn’t matter what Hardik Pandya wants; it matters what India wants. I’ve always tried to put my team first. That’s my biggest USP,” he said, stressing that roles don’t dictate his motivation — only contributions do.
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Pandya’s calculated assault also included taking on Keshav Maharaj at a key stage. “He took a chance and I took a chance. Mine was more calculated on that track… it gave us rhythm and momentum,” he explained.India’s total was more than enough, as Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel all picked two wickets each, dismantling South Africa’s chase with ruthless precision.
