Ahmedabad: In the fifth and final T20 International played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Hardik Pandya not only changed the course of the match with his explosive batting, but also won everyone’s hearts with his humanitarian behavior outside the field. This Indian all-rounder, who played a brilliant inning of 63 runs in 25 balls, hit a six which injured a cameraman near the boundary. However, what happened after this revealed Hardik not only as a player but also as a sensitive person.
Hardik Pandya gave his full strength during the Indian innings. His innings included five skyscraper sixes. Meanwhile, a straight six hit hit the shoulder of the cameraman standing near the boundary line. The speed of the ball was so high that the cameraman immediately felt pain and the medical staff present on the spot had to intervene. The Indian team physio immediately started first aid and applied an ice pack.
As soon as the Indian innings ended, Hardik Pandya went straight to the cameraman who was hit by his ball. He not only inquired about his well-being but also helped in first aid. Hardik hugged the cameraman and apologized for the unintentional injury. This moment was captured on camera and quickly went viral on social media.
Reacting to this incident, Hardik said that it is God’s grace that the ball did not go above him. A mark will probably be visible tomorrow at the spot where the ball hit, but he was very lucky. I was very worried inside because the hit was very accurate. I just wanted to make sure she was okay. The cameraman took the incident lightly and said, “Nothing happened, everything is fine.”
Talking about the match, Hardik Pandya proved to be the real game changer of this match. After a strong start by the top order, they poured in runs in the middle and final overs. His century partnership with Tilak Verma took India towards a big score. Tilak scored 73 runs in 42 balls, while Hardik’s innings of 63 runs took India to 231/5.
From South Africa’s side, Quinton de Kock and Devald Brewis started aggressively and created excitement in the match for some time. But Hardik Pandya also showed impact in bowling and took the important wicket of Brevis and turned the match completely in favor of India. The Proteas team was reduced from 120/1 to 135/5.
Ultimately, India won the match and took the series 3-1. Hardik Pandya’s contribution in this match was not limited to just runs and wickets, but his behavior outside the field will also be remembered for a long time. This night in Ahmedabad became an example of both victory and sportsmanship for Indian cricket.
