Hardik Pandya Takes Surge vs LSG; Smashes His First Fifty in IPL 2023
Hardik smacked his 9th IPL fifty vs LSG (AP Photo)
Gujarat Titans' Hardik Pandya chose to turn back to form with the bat on a sluggish track against Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Stadium. Pandya, who started slow, changed his tempo in Ravi Bishnoi's last over, smashing a boundary and two maximums and completing his 9th IPL half-century.
Hardik completed his half-century on 46 deliveries with a huge hit off Bishnoi.
For the first time this season, the GT skipper came out to bat at Number 3 after his brother Krunal Pandya sent Shubman Gill back to the attack early. However, Pandya and Wriddhiman Saha studied a counter-attacking partnership, until Krunal bagged another one for LSG.
After Saha's dismissal, the 29-year-old all-rounder lacked on finding a partner with the bat. Thus, he picked to take the toll upon himself and went berserk against the leg-spinner. Interestingly, Pandya also went behind Bishnoi in his first over, tonking him for a boundary and a sixer there.
Eventually, Gujarat end their innings at 135-6, with Krunal Pandya and Marcus Stoinis snapping two wickets apiece.
 "Arjun Bhalla")
