After impressing both as a bowler and fielder on his return to international cricket in the third ODI at Mount Maunganui, Hardik Pandya showed his worth as batsman in the fifth and final ODI at Wellington.
Coming in to bat at the fall of Ambati Rayudu’s brilliant knock of 90, Pandya gave the Indian innings an ideal finish by smashing 45 run off just 22 balls. India were at 190 for 6 in 44 overs when Pandya came in to bat and when he was walking back to the pavilion in the penultimate over, he had lifted India to 248. India’s tail, however, failed to make use of the last over and was bowled out for 252.
Pandya's brute power was on full display when he whacked leggie Todd Astle for three sixes in as many balls in the 47th over to shift the momentum towards India. The all-rounder did not even spare the in-form Boult, pulling him over midwicket for another maximum in the next over. He hit another six before getting out caught for 45. His cameo included two fours and five sixes.
His dismissal was nothing short of an event either. Neesham bowled a high full toss towards Pandya’s pads. The Indian all-rounder tried to best to get under it but only managed to get a top edge. Trent Boult then took a stunning catch running backwards. Pandya, however, refused to walk urging the umpires to go upstairs to check for a no ball on height. The reluctant on-field umpires did take the help of the third umpire after Pandya’s antics. Replays confirmed that the ball was legit delivery and Pandya walked back but not before slamming his bat onto his pads a multiple times.
Pandya missed the first two ODIs of the ongoing New Zealand series and the entire ODI series against Australia after being suspended by BCCI for his inappropriate comments in a non-cricketing TV show. It was only before the third ODI that BCCI provisionally lifted the suspension off Pandya, allowing him to play till the board completes its inquiry into the matter, which also led to KL Rahul's suspension.