Asia Cup 2022: Even if we needed 15 runs off the final, I would have fancied my chances – Hardik Pandya

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed that he would have been confident of even scoring 15 runs in the final over against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket on Sunday after the Men in Blue won by five wickets in the ongoing Asia Cup 2022.

Only seven runs were required in the last over but the equation got tricky as India needed six in the last three balls after Ravindra Jadeja was dismissed on the first ball. However, Pandya kept his cool as he smashed a winning six on the fourth ball of the over.

In fact, the all-rounder revealed that he was doing his calculations and knew Babar Azam will have to turn to a spinner for one over. Pandya went on to score a match-winning knock of 33 runs off just 17 balls as he batted at the top of his game.

India was on the ropes at 89-4 in the run-chase however Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja added 52 runs for the fifth wicket to get India close to the target.

Furthermore, Pandya also delivered the goods with the ball. He scalped three wickets and conceded only 25 runs in his quota of four overs. The right-arm pacer bowled accurately and accounted for Mohammad Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Khusdil Shah.

Hardik Pandya was awarded the Player of the Match for his fine performance, “In bowling, it’s important to assess the situations and use your weapons. For me, bowling short and hard lengths have been my strengths. It’s about using them well and asking the right questions to make the batters commit a mistake. In a chase like this, you always plan over by over. I always knew that there is one young bowler and also one left-arm spinner. We only needed 7 off the last over but even if we needed 15, I’d have fancied myself. I know the bowler is under more pressure than me in the 20th over. I try to keep things simple.”

Pandya was simply outstanding for India with both bat and ball and he will look to continue the good show in the rest of the tournament.

India will next face Hong Kong in their second game of Asia Cup 2022 at the same venue on Wednesday.