Former Indian batsman Gautam Gambhir has lauded the likes of Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya for scoring the ‘difficult runs’ in the fifth T20I vs England in Ahmedabad. India scored 224/2. Surya and Pandya scored 32 and 39 respectively and played a big part on taking India to that score. Earlier Virat Kohli opened the batting with Rohit Sharma and put up a 94-run stand to give India a good start.
Former Indian opener Gautam Gambhir lavished praise on Suryakumar and Hardik for maintaining the tempo of the Indian innings, alongside skipper Kohli.
Suryakumar, Hardik Scored Important Runs: Gautam Gambhir
“I’m not going to take anything away from Virat Kohli but then he had people like Suryakumar Yadav. There wasn’t a single phase in these 20 overs where England was in control,” Gambhir told ESPNCricinfo.
He further said that Suryakumar Yadav’s innings gave India the momentum after a good start.
“Mostly there have been times when a team gets off to a flier six overs 60 runs but there is a phase after those six overs, where the team tries to push it back, especially the bowling team. But if you see Suryakumar Yadav’s innings, if you can get that 30-odd off 17 balls and you can continue that same momentum, it’s always difficult” Gambhir further added.
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After Surya, Gambhir lavished praises on Hardik Pandya for batting with the same intensity since the time he came out to bat. He added an unbeaten 81-run stand with the Indian skipper.
“It’s easy for Virat Kohli because he’s been in and he’s batted for six overs. But suddenly after coming out to bat after six overs, and playing at that tempo and Hardik Pandya coming in and playing on that tempo, it’s a different ball game,” Gambhir stated.
The two teams now face off in a three-match ODI series in Pune’s Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium. The first game will be played on Match 23 followed by the last two on March 26 & 28.
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