Hardik Pandya Opens Up On Giving Axar Patel 20th Over In The First T20I Against Sri Lanka

An edge-of-the-seat last-ball thriller was witnessed in a full-house Wankhede on Tuesday (January 3rd). Hosts team India defeated the Asian champions and visitors Sri Lanka by mere 2 runs to go 1-0 up in the 3-match T20I series. After the match, Indian captain Hardik Pandya shed light on why Axar Patel was given the final over to defend just 13 runs. 

Indian T20I captain Hardik Pandya opened up on the decision which shocked the fans and experts alike as Axar Patel was given the responsibility to bowl the last over despite only 13 runs in the bank. Axar is known to deliver straight deliveries and Chamika Karunaratne would have easily dispatched a couple of big hits to seal the match. 

The decision seem to go sideways as Axar started the over with a wide and then conceded a six off the 3rd delivery. However, the left-arm bowler held his calm with 5 runs to defend of last 3 balls and eventually won the match for his team by 2 runs. In the post-match presentation, Hardik Pandya explained his decision to give Axar Patel the final over. 

"I want to put this team in difficult situations because it will help us in big games (on Axar bowling the last over). Bilaterals we are very good at and this is how we are going to challenge ourselves. To be honest, all the young guns got us out of the situation today. The conversation was very simple,” Pandya said in the post-match presentation. 

Also Read: SA20, 2023 - Squads & Schedule

After winning the first T20I by 2 runs, India will face off against Sri Lanka in the 2nd T20I at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune on Thursday (January 5th). Sri Lanka would look to win the match and stay alive in the 3-match T20I series.