Hardik Pandya in action during a cricket match
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya replied his critics with a blazing knock of 32 runs in the second T20I at The Village, Dublin. His nine-ball knock was decorated by a boundary and four sixes. Amidst all fireworks, the 24-year-old batsman found most of the motivation from a little 'cheerleader' - MS Dhoni's daughter Ziva.
After India's biggest T20I win, Pandya shared a video of Ziva cheering for the batsman, saying: "Come on, Hardik!"
"Oh I think that I found myself a cheerleader @zivasinghdhoni006 Video courtesy: @sakshisingh_r," Pandya captioned the video on Instagram.
India posted a massive 213 for four after being asked to take the first strike and then bundled out the hosts for a mere 70 in 12.3 overs.
It was India's biggest victory margin (by runs) as they improved on the 93-run win over Sri Lanka at Cuttack in 2017. It was also the joint second-highest margin (by runs) in T20Is with Pakistan 143-run win over West Indies in Karachi earlier this year, and second to 172 runs by Sri Lanka against Kenya in 2007.
Thanks to Pandya's fireworks, wherein Kevin O'Brien's final over of the Indian innings was taken for 21 runs, India managed to surpass their total from Wednesday.
(With PTI inputs)
