How Hardik Pandya became Ashoke Dinda's worst nightmare

Photo: BCCI New Delhi: It’s the story of one over. An over that took a side from a fighting total to a score that they could boast off with their heads held high.  Ashoke Dinda had just bowled an 8 run over – a decent 18th over under most normal circumstances in a T20 match. Hence, Supergiant captain Smith had no second thoughts in throwing the ball to Dinda for the last over. But little did he know that one over would actually change a lot of things. It would take Mumbai from 154 for 7 to 184 for 8. It would become the most expensive over in the ten year history of IPL. The striker was not Kieron Pollard, nor was it Rohit Sharma. It was a young Indian all-rounder who is making everyone envious with his notable improvements in the all the three aspects of the game – Hardik Pandya. The best part was, it was calculative hitting – mixed with a lot of sense and a clean bat swing. The first ball was a Dinda special, full and wide outside off stump, very little a batsman can do. Not if he is Pandya. He used his reach, managed to tonk the ball over cover and three rows back in the stands –six. Dinda came back with his second best weapon, a back of the hand slower one. Pandya was ready for it.  He chose long of this time – another six. Dinda was rattled. He had to carry himself to the bowling mark. The third ball appeared to be a miss hit but still carried well over long on – three sixes in a row. Now the Pune crowd was anticipating something special. The next three deliveries culminated a total of 12 (4,6 wide, 1) runs, 6 short of the crowd’s expectation. Mumbai had crossed 180 and were easily the happier bunch in the break.

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— IPL Fans (@TeamIPLFans) April 6, 2017