Best Innings of Hardik Pandya in IPL
A big hitter of the ball and a wily customer with the ball in hand, Hardik Pandya is a bona fide matchwinner who has shown his capabilities in the international arena as well as the IPL. Blessed with huge amounts of talent as well as an equal amount of self-confidence, Pandya thrives under pressure, often producing his best performances when all eyes are on him.
Best Innings of Hardik Pandya in IPL
The knocks listed in the following list of the top 5 innings of Hardik Pandya’s IPL career will illustrate just why he has become a fixture in the Indian international side in such a short span of time.
5. 35* (15) vs Rising Pune Supergiant (2017)
Although the score might make you wonder why this is considered among the Best Innings of Hardik Pandya in IPL career, it is the circumstances surrounding the knock that make it worthy of this list. Playing for Mumbai Indians against local rivals Rising Pune Supergiant, Pandya came in at number 9 and smashed 35* off just 15 balls, with 1 four and 4 sixes to take his side to a challenging 184/8. Only one Mumbai batsman managed to outscore him, which proves how important these innings lower down the order was. However, it wasn’t enough to win the match for his side, as Steve Smith’s 84 and Ajinkya Rahane’s 60 saw Pune claim a 7-wicket win off the penultimate ball.
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4. 21* (8) vs Chennai Super Kings (2015)
Another seemingly low score makes the cut for the Best Batting Performance of Hardik Pandya in IPL, this one coming in a winning effort. Mumbai Indians were playing against Chennai Super Kings in 2015 and were chasing the deceptively easy target of 159. The men in blue were floundering against the wily CSK attack and when Pandya came out to bat, they required 34 runs off just 17 balls. This allowed Pandya to show off his fearlessness under pressure as he smashed 3 huge sixes to ease the burden, remaining unbeaten on 21 as Mumbai sealed a dramatic 6-wicket win in the last over. So crucial was Pandya’s cameo that he was awarded the man of the match award for his efforts.
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3. 50 (42) vs Royal Challengers Bangalore (2018)
Next on this list of the top 5 innings of Hardik Pandya in IPL matches is a half-century that might not seem to have been the most entertaining knock but proved to be a shining light amidst the failures of his teammates. Playing against Royal Challengers Bangalore in 2018, Mumbai were chasing a modest 168 for the win but were losing wickets at regular intervals. By the time Pandya arrived at the crease, they were 84/5 in the 12th over and in need of a miracle. Curbing his natural attacking instincts, Pandya put together a mature knock, scoring 50 off 42 balls with 5 fours and 1 six in an innings where the next highest score was 23. His efforts got Mumbai close but saw them fall short of the target, finishing with 153/7 and losing by 14 runs.
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2. 61* (31) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2015)
The list of the Best Batting Performance of Hardik Pandya in IPL has to include his maiden half-century in the tournament, a quickfire unbeaten knock that not only won his side the game but also won him the man of the match award. Playing against Kolkata Knight Riders, Pandya’s 61* of 31 balls, which included 8 fours and 2 sixes, was the highest score and helped his side reach 171/4 in 20 overs. The Baroda all-rounder’s batting heroics proved to be crucial as KKR were restricted to 166/7 in their reply, sealing a 5-run win for the Mumbai Indians.
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1. 91 (34) vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2019)
One knock that stands out on this list of the top 5 innings of Hardik Pandya in IPL matches, possibly his best in the tournament to date, came against Kolkata Knight Riders in 2019. Batting first, KKR rode on half-centuries from Shubman Gill, Chris Lynn, and Andre Russell en route a huge total of 232/2. A tough ask for Mumbai Indians was made even harder by the loss of regular wickets, with only Pandya holding his own in a disappointing showing with the bat. 6 fours and 9 sixes saw him score 91 off just 34 balls, single-handedly dragging Mumbai to 198/7 in the second innings, eventually falling short by 34 runs.
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