IND vs SA: "His style didn’t click…"- Irfan Pathan takes a dig at Hardik Pandya's batting after second T20I

Irfan Pathan feels Hardik Pandya struggled to score in the second T20I as the pitch lacked pace or bounce.

Former Indian all-rounder Irfan Pathan took a dig at Hardik Pandya’s batting after the second T20I against South Africa Cricket Team on Thursday, December 11. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that Pandya failed to come up with another brilliant show as the pitch conditions in New Chandigarh stadium did not allow him to follow his batting style.

In the mammoth 214-run chase, Pandya could not contribute with the bat, getting out for just 20 runs off 23 deliveries. Batting in the lower-order, he struggled to smash big shots, hitting just one six in his innings. He lost his wicket in the 15th over at the crucial moment, when India required a high run rate to chase the target.

However, the 32-year-old set the field on fire with his blistering knock in the opening game in Cuttack. As India lost their top and middle-order batters cheaply, Pandya hammered an unbeaten 59 runs off 28 balls to drive the scoreboard to a big total of 175/6. With six boundaries and four sixes, he sent the crowd into a frenzy and was adjudged Player of the Match following India’s victory.

His stand-and-deliver style didn’t click: Irfan Pathan on Hardik Pandya’s batting

As Pandya failed to replicate his batting show in New Chandigarh, Pathan took a dig at his batting in a post on X (formerly Twitter). Pathan said that since the pitch lacked pace or bounce, Pandya’s stand-and-deliver style did not work. He also reckoned that one has to utilise foot movements to achieve success on such wickets.

“It’s amazing how the game works. Just a day ago, on a different pitch, Hardik looked solid. But on a surface that offered something for the bowlers, his stand-and-deliver style didn’t click, because when the pitch lacks pace or bounce, you’ve got to move your feet,” he posted on X.

Speaking about the clash, South Africa outplayed India by 51 runs to level the series 1-1. With Quinton de Kock’s 90 runs, the visitors piled up 213/4 in the first innings. Later, Ottneil Baartman captured a four-wicket haul as the hosts were bowled out for just 162 runs, with Tilak Varma (62) smacking the lone half-century for the Men in Blue.

Earlier, India won the opening game by 101 runs. The third T20I between both sides will take place on December 14 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

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