IND vs AUS: Hardik Pandya finishes off India's innings with hat-trick of sixes

Australia recorded an impressive win in the first T20I match against India in Mohali on Tuesday. India put a big 209-run target while batting first but failed to defend the total due to a poor bowling display. Cameron Green and Matthew Wade starred in the visitors' well-deserved win but it was Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who stole the show at Punjab Cricket Association IS Bindra Stadium.

Hardik, playing in the number five position, single-handedly took India past the 200-run total after Suryakumar Yadav's dismissal in the 14th over. Hardik was under pressure to score a big knock after his inconsistent performance in the 2022 Asia Cup tournament. He smashed 33* and took three wickets in the opening group stage fixture against Pakistan but ended the tournament with just 50 runs and four wickets in three matches. 

Hardik Pandya showered sixes in the last over:

Meanwhile, the 28-year-old all-rounder shut off his critics with a brilliant 71-run knock against the Australian bowling unit. He reached the 50-run mark off 25 balls with a four on the last ball of the 19th over. He then added 20 more in the last over with a hat-trick of three sixes on the last three deliveries. He smashed Green's fourth delivery to over mid-wicket with a flat six and the next one to over long-on while sitting back. Green went for a short off delivery and Pandya powered it over deep third to complete a hat-trick of sixes.

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Hardik remained unbeaten on 71 runs off 30 balls with five sixes to help India put a big 209-run target for the visitors. But Australia remained confident in the chase from the start with opener Green in a beast mode. He repaid his poor bowling display with an explosive 61-run knock at a strike rate of 203.33. 

Indian bowlers managed to get themselves back into the game in the middle overs with big wickets of Green, Glenn Maxwell, and Steven Smith. But Matthew Wade (45* off 21 balls) and Tim David dragged Australia to the finish line. Indian bowlers, including Hardik, proved expensive in the absence of star pacer Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested for the first match.