The Art Of Delivering Under Fire: Hardik Pandya's Most Impactful Asia Cup Knocks

Soumyajit Dutta

Hardik Pandya's best Asia Cup knocks [Source: AFP Photos]Hardik Pandya's best Asia Cup knocks [Source: AFP Photos]

Hardik Pandya has cemented his role as India's premier all-rounder in recent years, and the Asia Cup has been a key stage showcasing his explosive potential. While his primary impact often comes through crucial wickets, Pandya has also delivered vital batting contributions under immense pressure. His ability to shift gears and finish innings makes him a constant threat in the middle and lower order.

Looking specifically at his batting record in the tournament across formats, Hardik Pandya's numbers reflect his role as a finisher rather than a top-order accumulator. In the Asia Cup ODI, across 6 matches, he scored 92 runs, while in the T20I format, across 8 matches, Pandya garnered 83 runs.

Opponent
Matches
Runs
Average
Strike Rate
Bangladesh23131172.22
Pakistan612040108.1
Sri Lanka424868.57

(Hardik Pandya's Asia Cup stats against countries)

Now, let's explore some of Pandya's best Asia Cup knocks that make him a threat despite having low totals with the bat.

3) 31 vs Bangladesh (T20I, 2016)

On February 24, 2016, in Mirpur, Hardik Pandya played a game-changing cameo that helped India seal a 45-run win over Bangladesh in the Asia Cup T20 opener. Walking in at 97/4 in the 15th over, with Rohit Sharma well set but wickets tumbling, Pandya was promoted to No. 6 ahead of MS Dhoni. He immediately went on the attack, smashing 31 off just 18 balls at a blistering 172.22 strike rate, including four boundaries and a six. 

His fearless stroke-play, reeling off five boundaries in his first 11 balls, perfectly complemented Rohit’s late acceleration. The pair added 61 runs in 27 balls, transforming India’s innings from a modest total into a commanding 166/6. That late surge deflated Bangladesh’s early momentum, and with Nehra, Bumrah, Ashwin, and Pandya himself striking with the ball, India closed out a convincing victory.

2) 33 vs Pakistan (T20I, 2022)

On August 28, 2022, at the Dubai International Stadium, Hardik Pandya produced an ice-cold match-winning performance as India beat Pakistan by five wickets in a tense Asia Cup 2022 clash. Chasing 148, India were in trouble at 89/4 in the 15th over before Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja stitched a 52-run stand. With 21 needed off the last two overs, Pandya hammered three boundaries off a struggling Naseem Shah to leave India needing seven off the final six balls. 

In the last over, bowled by Mohammad Nawaz, the all-rounder stood calm under immense pressure and launched the winning six over long-on with two balls to spare, even after a wicket of Jadeja in that over, as he finished unbeaten on 33 off 17 balls at a strike rate of 194.11.

1) 87 vs Pakistan (ODI, 2023)

On September 2, 2023, at Pallekele, Hardik Pandya produced a classy rescue act in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan before rain washed the match out. Coming in at 66/4 after Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf had ripped through India’s top order, Pandya joined Ishan Kishan to stage a brilliant 138-run fifth-wicket stand. Mixing composure with calculated aggression, he rotated strike early before shifting gears late, scoring his first 30 runs at a run-a-ball and then adding 31 off his last 20 deliveries. 

Pandya's uncharacteristic 87 off 90 balls, laced with 7 fours and a six, kept India in the contest and showcased his middle-order reliability even without bowling. Pandya eventually fell to an Afridi slower ball, 13 short of a century, but his innings ensured India reached 266.