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
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.
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
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.”
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.”
Nevin Clinton
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