On a day when most of the Indian batsmen found it difficult to even get to double digits on a bouncy track at the Newlands in Cape Town, Hardik Pandya rekindled India’s hopes of a fightback with classic counter-attacking innings.
In the 52nd over of the Indian innings, Pandya brought up his second Test fifty of just 46 balls. Under the current circumstances Pandya’s knock is invaluable but what was also stands out is the way he took the attack to the bowlers and hit 10 boundaries in his innings.
Earlier, Pandya was given a life after he was dropped on 15 by Dean Elgar off the bowling of Morne Morkel. But from thereon he put the pressure back on the bowlers and trusting his instincts kept playing his shots.
Against a fearsome attack comprising of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada Pandya, Hardik also registered the highest score of 93 in the Indian innings.
Fans on Twitter went crazy after watching Pandya’s fearless knock and hailed him while trolling the top order of the batting line-up.
Here are some of the Twitter reactions:
Enjoying watching this uncomplicated, uninhibited batting from Hardik Pandya. Looking like a batsman.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) January 6, 2018
Hardik Pandya now has the highest score in this test. Against an attack that reads Steyn, Morkel, Philander and Rabada.
Let that sink in!— Shrikant (@HomerOpines) January 6, 2018
Tragic that @hardikpandya7 couldn't reach century. But this knock of breathtaking bravado and brilliance will be long remembered
— Cricketwallah (@cricketwallah) January 6, 2018
Well played @hardikpandya7 played his natural game & as what was said earlier,wasn’t looking to survive ..#INDvSA
— zainab abbas (@ZAbbasOfficial) January 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/ImRo450/status/949645473110872064
https://twitter.com/Gujju_Kinjal/status/949638666393022465
Hardik Pandya clearly has the commitment. Just hope the other key top order batsmen can do the same after first innings failure. Come on Team India, you can do it. #INDvSA
— Anuj Singhal अनुज सिंघल (@_anujsinghal) January 6, 2018
Hardik Pandya is as mad as Virender Sehwag.
Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing 😋#SAvIND
— Rupin Kale (@Vegansportlover) January 6, 2018
Brilliant counter attack by @hardikpandya7 .Huge advantage to have all rounder like him in test line up .
— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) January 6, 2018
Hardik Pandya Test Career:
50 vs SL in SL
20 vs SL in SL
108 vs SL in SL
93 vs SA in SAPlayed only four innings so far!
— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket) January 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/sagarcasm/status/949625340707594240
Two good knocks of Hardik Pandya in Tests and Ravindra Jadeja wasn't playing both the matches. 😂😂
— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) January 6, 2018
https://twitter.com/SamreenRazzaqui/status/949621520627777536