After winning the yesterday’s match Virat Kohli described Hardik Pandya as “Great Asset” to team. Coming to bat at the no. 4 position, Pandya played a wonderful 78-run knock off just 72 balls to guide India to 5 wickets victory over Australia while chasing a competitive total of 294 runs.
When reporters asked skipper Virat Kohli about the Pandya’s promotion up the order he said head coach Ravi Shastri was the master mind behind promoting all-rounder Hardik Pandya up the order, which ultimately paid wealthy bonus for the home side in the series-clinching five-wicket win over Australia in the third ODI.
Coming to bat at the no. 4 position, Pandya played a delightful 78-run knock off 72 balls to steer India home while chasing a competitive 294 for a win.
Kohli Said: “I’m really, really satisfied with the win. He (Pandya) is a star, has the ability with the ball, bat and the field. We need a guy like that, we’ve been missing an explosive all- rounder. He is a great asset for Indian cricket,” Kohli said after the match.
“Rohit (71) and Rahane (70) provided the solid start what Indian team was looking for as both added 139 runs for the opening wicket and then Hardik Pandya added crucial 78 runs for the 5th wicket along with Manish Pandey. Kohli added, only he can do what he does when he bats like that. Pandya is a star,” a happy Kohli said after the win.
“He possesses ability with the bat, ball and in the field as well. We have been wanting a guy like that for the past 5-6 years”.
Thank you for all the motivation and support Skipper ❤️
Great feeling to go 3-0 up and clinch the series! 🏆#INDvAUS #TeamWork #NumberOne https://t.co/SbMH0R0QD9
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) September 24, 2017
Ladies and gentlemen, here is the man of the moment @hardikpandya7(Also @klrahul11 at the back)🔝👌😁
Great win, series clinched😇 #NumberOne☝️ pic.twitter.com/umyvk0IW7x— Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) September 24, 2017
Before this Australia got to a good start first time in the series as both Warner and Finch added 70 runs for the opening wicket and further skipper Smith and Finch added 154 runs for second wicket. Before Finch got out on 124 runs caught by Jadhav on the ball of Kuldeep Yadav and soon after skipper Smith perishes on 63 runs. With two new players on the crease what was to be a 350-plus total, turned out to be 293 for six, with the middle order failing to build. Their batting collapse was bizarrely in the last eight overs. Indian spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal provided the break through at crucial intervals with the perfect timing.
Losing skipper Steve Smith accepted the defeat and said that he and his team is responsible for the lose.
“We set it up beautifully in the first 37-38 over’s. We put ourselves in a good position. But Indian bowlers executed well, we executed poorly,” he said.
India took an irrefutable lead of 3-0 in the 5 Match ODI series.
