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OTD In 2017: Hardik Pandya Annihilated Sri Lanka And Test Cricket Conventions With Gutsy 108

Soumyajit Dutta

Hardik Pandya celebrates after hundred [Source: @amer_mmussa/X.com]Hardik Pandya celebrates after hundred [Source: @amer_mmussa/X.com]

Seven years ago today, on August 13th, 2017, a seismic shift reverberated through Pallekele. It wasn't an earthquake, but the impact of Hardik Pandya's willow on a hapless Sri Lankan attack. 

On the second day of the third Test, Hardik Pandya didn't just score his maiden Test century. He detonated it in a blaze of breathtaking audacity, announcing himself as India's most explosive all-rounder in generations, which India failed to keep up with.

Hardik Pandya’s Arrival In Grand Style

Arriving at the crease late on Day 1 with India already commanding at 329/6, Pandya began cautiously alongside Wriddhiman Saha. But Day 2 dawned with a different Pandya. The overnight 1* transformed into a whirlwind of controlled aggression. With the lower order for the company, Pandya didn't settle for accumulation.

His innings was a masterclass in power-hitting fused with surprising composure. He treated the spinners, Lakshan Sandakan and Malinda Pushpakumara, with utter disdain. The sight of Pandya dancing down the track to loft spinners cleanly over long-on or hammering them over wide long-off became routine. 

Pandya Reaches His Fifty Off 61 Balls!

Hardik Pandya playing against Sri Lanka [Source: @gap_88/X.com]Hardik Pandya playing against Sri Lanka [Source: @gap_88/X.com]

Reaching his fifty off 61 balls was impressive. But Pandya wasn't done. He accelerated, treating the seasoned Sri Lankan bowlers like net bowlers in a T20 match. The landmark moment arrived in the most Pandya-esque fashion: a monstrous six. He brought up his maiden Test hundred off just 86 balls with his seventh six, a fitting exclamation point on an innings of pure bravado.

His 108 wasn't just about the runs, it was about the manner. Seven sixes and eight fours painted a picture of breathtaking dominance. He added 107 vital runs with the last three wickets, turning a strong Indian total (487) into a psychologically crushing one. Spirit broken, Sri Lanka folded for 135 in their first innings, forced to follow on, and were eventually demolished by an innings and 171 runs inside three days.

August 13th, 2017, stands as the day Hardik Pandya truly arrived on the world Test stage. It was the day he silenced doubters, showcased his unique, game-changing talent, and proved that swagger and six-hitting could indeed belong in the hallowed halls of Test cricket. Though he disappeared from the Whites, his Test heroics will long remain in cricketing folklore.