Asia Cup 2023: Hardik Pandya’s 87 was like a captain’s knock, says Matthew Hayden

Former Australian opener Matthew Hayden feels Hardik Pandya’s 87 was like a captain’s knock. Pandya joined forces with Ishan Kishan when India was struggling at 66-4 after 14.1 overs against Pakistan at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Saturday.

Pandya, who wasn’t in the best of forms with the bat against the West Indies, turned the tables in the all-important clash. The right-hander played second fiddle to Ishan Kishan before changing gears towards the end.

Pandya scored seven fours and one six as he batted at the top of his game. The Indian vice-captain added 138 runs off 142 balls with Ishan Kishan for the fifth wicket alliance and the duo played responsibly.

However, Pandya was dismissed on a slower delivery by Shaheen Shah Afridi and he could not add the finishing touches as India was bundled out for 266.

“I think he will be a little bit disappointed with the way he got out. I think he should have gone on to get somewhere around 120. He will know that,” Matthew Hayden told Star Sports.

“But the reality is the maturity that he displayed, the way he took charge. He knew that his side was in trouble, he knew that Ishan Kishan was at the other end and he hadn’t played a lot of cricket for India in ODis. There was an extenuating situation, plus he was facing a world-class Pakistan attack.

“Those situations, he summed up nicely. He did exactly what he was supposed to do through that middle stage. When the spin came on, he was able to manipulate the strike.

“That was almost like a captain’s knock, the one that Rohit Sharma couldn’t play. Hardik did play,” he added.

In the end, the match was called off as rain had the final say. Meanwhile, Pandya has all the experience under his belt and he is going to hold the key for the Rohit Sharma-led team.

India will next face Nepal at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Pallekele on Monday.