Team India registered a thrilling win over Pakistan in its opening match of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, defeating the arch-rivals by four wickets in Melbourne. In a nail-biting finish that came down to the final ball, veteran spinner R Ashwin kept his calm to seal the victory as well.
However, it was Virat Kohli, who led the chase and remained unbeaten on 82 off just 53 balls to make sure India reach the finish line. Notably, India were struggling at 31/4 in 6.1 overs in the 160-run chase when Virat Kohli was joined by all-rounder Hardik Pandya in the middle as well. They added a 113-run stand for the fifth wicket, where Hardik also scored a valiant 40.
However, Hardik Pandya was dismissed on the first ball of the final over, but Kohli and Ashwin made sure India win the game. Meanwhile, following the victory, Hardik Pandya also turned emotional while interacting with home broadcasters Star Sports after the game.
In a video that has gone viral on Twitter after the game, Hardik Pandya could be seen teary-eyed as he remembered his late father and the sacrifices he had done for Hardik.
Hardik Pandya was in tears while speaking about his father. pic.twitter.com/QTBO7kX22C
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) October 24, 2022
“Agar vo mujhe khelne ka mauka nahi dete, toh main idhar nahi khada hota. Itna bada sacrifice karna, bacchon ke liye poora city shift karna. Main nahi kar sakta, main apne bacchon se bohot pyaar karta hu. Unke liye sab kar lunga, but uss samay pe jab 6 saal ke the dono bhai, tab city aur business sab shift karna.. bohot badi baat hai. I will be grateful forever (If he hadn’t given me a chance, I won’t be standing here. He made a big sacrifice, he shifted to a different city for his kids. I love my kids so much but I can’t do that. We were six at that time, and he shifted an entire city and his entire business. It was a big thing),” Hardik Pandya said as he turned emotional.
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