India vs Australia: “I’ve been working really hard to play for my country,” says Hardik Pandya after match-winning knock in 3rd ODI


India vs Australia: “I’ve been working really hard to play for my country,” says Hardik Pandya after match-winning knock in 3rd ODI

Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya

India registered a thrilling win over Australia at the Manuka Oval in Canberra to win the 3rd and final ODI and more importantly ensure that Australia didn’t secure a whitewash. In what proved to be a topsy-turvy match, India emerged victorious thanks to a disciplined bowling performance.

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But in the first innings, it was the Hardik Pandya-Ravindra Jadeja show that took the game away from the Aussies. Joining hands at a precarious position for India, the two scored boundaries and sixes at will to take India past 300, a figure which looked out of reach at a point. Virat Kohli’s half-century early on helped as well.

In the second innings, a 3-wicket haul for Shardul Thakur and 2 wickets apiece for Jasprit Bumrah and debutant T Natarajan ensured that despite fighting knocks from Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell, Australia didn’t walk away with a third consecutive win.

‘T Natarajan is an inspiration’ – Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya

For his explosive knock of 92 runs off just 76 balls in the 3rd ODI, Hardik Pandya was adjudged the Man of the Match. Speaking at the post-match presentation, Pandya said, “It’s fantastic. Been working really hard to make sure I play for my country, so I’m really happy to be playing this series. You need to be on your toes to compete against Australia. I feel that you always have that extra edge in you when you play against Australia, you want to face up to that challenge.”

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Pandya also spoke about debutant T Natarajan and called him an ‘inspiration’, “Natarajan is quite a story, quite an inspiration with the background he’s come from,” the all-rounder said. In a cheeky moment during the interview towards the end, he was asked by interviewer Shane Warne if he was the new ‘Rockstar’ in the team to which a smiling Pandya said, “I’m fine if Jadeja keeps that role. I’m a father now.”

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