WI vs IND: Stump mic conversation goes viral as Hardik Pandya denies Tilak Varma deserving fifty; Fans left divided

Indian captain Hardik Pandya led his team to victory in the third T20 match against West Indies, securing an important win to stay alive in the five-match T20I series. The team's triumph, however, has been overshadowed by a winning six hit by Pandya, leaving fans divided.

With just 2 runs needed to seal the victory, Pandya was facing the fifth ball of the 18th over. On the other end, young talent Tilak Varma was on the brink of a milestone - his half-century. Yet, to the surprise of many, Pandya opted for a glory shot, smashing a six instead of taking a single. While clinching the game, this decision robbed Varma of a well-deserved half-century.

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— Nihari Korma (@NihariVsKorma) August 9, 2023

The fallout from Pandya's decision was swift and sharp, particularly on social media. Critics blasted him for prioritizing personal glory over the success of the team and for not supporting a young player's milestone moment. Comparisons to former captain MS Dhoni, who famously allowed Virat Kohli to hit the winning runs in a crucial T20 World Cup match, further intensified the backlash.

However, a new audio clip from the stump mic has shed light on Pandya's intentions. During a conversation with Varma, Pandya can be heard telling his young teammate to "stay there and finish the game." This indicates that Pandya was initially thinking about giving Varma the chance to finish off the game, but later on, somehow Pandya decided to finish it off himself by hitting a huge six.

Tilak has been in sublime form in ongoing T20I series against West Indies

Tilak Varma's quick rise to the International arena has impressed everyone across the globe. The 21-year-old left-hander young prodigy has rapidly become a fan favourite, thanks to his fearless and stylish batting approach. 

After seeing him performing so well for India in the ongoing T20I series at number four, many fans have started advocating for his inclusion in India's ODI World Cup squad as well. In the series, Varma has amassed 139 runs with a brilliant strike rate of 139 and currently holds the leading position in the list of top run scorers.