Ranveer Singh impressed by Hardik Pandya's 'mad hitting'

Hardik Pandya, on Sunday, took Kolkata Knight Riders to the cleaners as he nearly took Mumbai Indians over the line in a high-scoring contest at the Eden Gardens. Asked to bat first, Kolkata scored a gigantic 232 for 2. Chris Lynn and Shubman Gill laid the platform for the big total by adding 96 runs for the first wicket. Hardik Pandya gave Mumbai the much-needed breakthrough when he dismissed Lynn for 54.

However, it did not bring any respite for the visiting team as Gill continued his onslaught and was joined by the dangerous Andre Russell. By the time the innings ended, the Knight Riders had posted their highest-ever total against Mumbai Indians and also the highest score of the ongoing season. At that stage, it looked like Knight Riders had the game well in their pocket. And when Mumbai Indians lost four for just 58 runs in the ninth over, it looked all over for the visitors.

However, Pandya had other plans and he played one of the best knocks of this season to nearly pull off a heist. The all-rounder smashed a 17-ball fifty and eventually scored 91 from just 34 with the help of six fours and 9 sixes. But his knock went in vain as Mumbai Indians ended up on 198 for 7 to lose the game by 34 runs. But despite the loss, Pandya has been garnering praise from all over and Bollywood star Ranveer Singh also joined the bandwagon.

Ranveer took to Twitter to praise Pandya’s fight while saying that Russell’s all-round show made the difference. Russell hammered 80 from just 40 balls in addition to picking up 2 for just 25 to walk away with the Man of the Match award.

Also read- IPL 2019: Sachin Tendulkar praises Hardik Pandya’s ‘truly outstanding’ hitting

“Ultimately KKRs total proved to be insurmountable! Valiant fight from Hardik though !! What mad hitting !! Crrrrrrrrrrrrrracking them!!!! 🏏,” wrote Ranveer.

“DRE RUS SUPERSTAR ALL ROUND PERFORMANCE WAS THE DIFFERENCE,” he added.

Pandya on his knock:

After the game, Pandya shed some light on his blistering knock and his game plan. The Mumbai Indians star said he was just looking to ‘go out and express’ as the target was huge.

“I was just telling Krunal ‘damn I am close to a hundred’ that is something new for me. The situation demanded to go all out and I was lucky enough everything was coming out, except the ball I got out. To be honest, with this kind of total you don’t think much, just go out there and express yourself,” said Pandya.

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