IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya delivered a statement-making performance in his comeback T20I as he produced a breathtaking knock in the first match against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The Indian all-rounder reached his half-century in just 25 deliveries, showcasing clean ball-striking and immense confidence on his return after injury.
Pandya brought up his fifty with a towering six off Anrich Nortje early in the final over of India's innings. That particular maximum carried extra significance-it marked his 100th six in T20 internationals. With that milestone, the Baroda cricketer became only the fourth Indian batter to hit a century of sixes in the format, joining Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Suryakumar Yadav.
Rohit continues to
top the charts among Indians with a staggering 205 sixes from 159 T20Is. Suryakumar sits second with 155 hits over the ropes in just 96 matches, while Kohli signed off from the format with 124 sixes in 125 outings.
For Pandya, this outing was his 121st T20I appearance, and his unbeaten 59 off 28 balls played a crucial role in powering India to a competitive 175/6 after being asked to bat first. His innings featured six crisp boundaries to go along with four huge sixes, lifting the scoring rate when the side needed acceleration.
His heroics with the bat also set up another opportunity-one that could etch his name into cricketing history. Pandya enters the bowling innings sitting on 98 career wickets. Should he claim two more scalps, he will become only the second Indian after Arshdeep Singh to reach 100 T20I wickets.
More importantly, he will also become the first Indian player to achieve the double of 1000 runs and 100 wickets in T20Is-a feat only accomplished by Mohammad Nabi, Shakib Al Hasan, and Sikandar Raza thus far.
Even more exclusive is the next tier: only Nabi and Raza have combined 1000 runs, 100 wickets and 100 sixes. A couple of wickets tonight would officially put Pandya within striking distance of joining one of the rarest clubs in the format.
