Hardik Pandya runs 20 metres to prevent New Zealand an overthrow

Hardik Pandya, the Indian all-rounder, has had a controversial time of late. The talk-show Koffee With Karan turned out to be a nightmare for him as he made some sexist remarks following which he was handed an indefinite suspension by the BCCI’s Committee of Administrators (CoA), appointed by the Supreme Court. The 25-year-old was also asked to go back home midway from the Australia tour.

Fortunately, the ban on him was lifted and he was included in the national squad for the limited-overs series against New Zealand. The Baroda cricketer got to play in the third ODI at the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui and didn’t look rusty by any stretch of the imagination. The youngster was excellent with the leather in hand, having picked up two wickets and conceded only 45 runs in his quota of 10 overs.

Pandya excellent in the outfield

Hardik was also stupendous in the outfield. He took an awe-inspiring catch to send the Black Caps’ skipper Kane Williamson packing in the 17th over. Moreover, he saved a few important runs in the outfield with some whole-hearted efforts, an instance of which was seen in the eighth over of the Kiwis’ innings. At that point in time, New Zealand were two down with only 27 on the board.

In the first ball of the over by Mohammed Shami, Ross Taylor nudged the ball on the leg side and set off for a single. Pandya came running in with all his might and had a shy at the stumps. He didn’t take much time in releasing the ball either. The leather disturbed the timber, but by then Taylor had already made his ground.

Subsequently, the ball ricocheted off the stumps and went quite a distance away. Taylor sensed the chance of an extra run after seeing that the ball had gone deep into the outfield. Meanwhile, Pandya ran 20 metres after the ball and made a diving stop to ensure that the Kiwis’ don’t take that extra run.

Here is the video

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