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‘He Did What Rohit Sharma Couldn’t..’- Matthew Hayden Praises Hardik Pandya

image-lm367h4tHardik Pandya in action against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2023 (AP)

Hardik Pandya, alongside Ishan Kishan, led India’s belligerent counterattacking response against Pakistan in their opening Asia Cup 2023 match in Kandy. The all-rounder top-scored in the Indian innings and shared 138 runs with Kishan for the fifth wicket.

Their partnership guided the 'Men in Blue' towards a competitive total after their top order was wrecked by Pakistan's speed guns Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.

Former Australian cricketer Matthew Hayden has heaped huge praise on Hardik Pandya for his effort and even described his innings as a "captain's knock". 

The former opener hailed Pandya’s strike rotation and claimed that the all-rounder managed to do what team skipper Rohit Sharma could not.


Hayden praises Pandya, compares with Rohit Sharma

Indian captain Rohit Sharma and number three Virat Kohli were both knocked over by Pakistan's new-ball paceman Shaheen Afridi. On the other end, Haris Rauf removed well-set batters, Shreyas Iyer and Shubman Gill.

At 66-4, Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan formed a 138-run fifth wicket stand to take India past the 200-run mark. Both cricketers slapped sparkling 80s, with Pandya's 87 from 90 balls emerging as the best score from the innings.

Watch: Highlights from Hardik Pandya, Ishan Kishan partnership

Cricketer-turned-commentator Matthew Hayden believes that Pandya, India's T20I skipper, displayed better leadership skills with the bat than the team's regular leader Rohit Sharma. While speaking on Star Sports during a mid-innings break, the former opener said:

“He (Hardik Pandya) should've scored 120. He knew he had Ishan Kishan at the other end. But he played really well. He did exactly what India needed at that situation, soaked in the pressure. He was able to manipulate strike, he was able to manoeuvre the spinners. He made sure Ishan Kishan was at ease at the other end. In my opinion, it was a captain's knock. Rohit Sharma couldn't but Hardik Pandya did," Matthew Hayden said.

Hardik Pandya and skipper Sharma will now turn up for India in their final Asia Cup 2023 Group A match against Nepal. The much-awaited fixture will be played out at Kandy's Pallekele Stadium on September 4.