Hardik Pandya showed why he is India’s MVP for the world cup choking Australia with the ball

When Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head got going early in the first powerplay, with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj not finding any assance off the air or the pitch, India looked short on answers. It didn’t even take four overs for the Australia openers to silence the 35,000-plus fans at the MA Chidambaram Stadium. That Rohit Sharma, who usually doesn’t prefer using spinners in the powerplay, turned to Axar Patel as early as sixth over showed how desperate India were to break the partnership.

At Visakhapatnam, Marsh and Head took only 11 overs to chase India’s target of 118, though, without any scoreboard pressure, but on Wednesday, they started off as if they were continuing from where they left on Sunday. If a delightfully punched shot through the covers got Head off the mark, Marsh casually lifted one of his hips to kickstart his rampage. Anything that Shami and Siraj pitched full – in search of movement – disappeared to the fence and even Axar, called up to stream the run-flow, conceded 11 in his second over as Australia were placed 61/0 at the end of first powerplay.
then there were already worried faces in the Indian camp, with Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Virat Kohli all converging at various points to alter the field. When Rohit threw the ball to Pandya, with the cushion of two more fielders outside the circle in the second powerplay, it was a make-or-break moment.
The second powerplay bowling options is something India have been careful in choosing and nurturing their resources. A key element in the game where strike-bowlers are needed in the middle-overs, India had identified Prasidh Krishna as one of the seamers to bowl alongside spinners. His injury meant Umran Malik was tried and he tasted some success too, but in search of team balance, they had no option but to go back to Pandya, one who has fought his own battle with injuries, and whose workload has to be carefully managed.
Prior to this match, in the current home season, Pandya had taken only six wickets in seven matches and in the one where he went wicketless, he had conceded 70 runs in 7 overs. As he came on to bowl, the pressure was not just on India, but on Pandya as well, as another innings without impact with the ball, it could have sowed more seeds of doubt in the Indian team as to whether to forego balance to seek wicket-taking options in the middle. If new ball bowlers don’t end up with wickets, and in case Pandya too fails to have an impact, it could nullify India’s spinners, which is why the all-rounder is so crucial.
India’s Hardik Pandya, left, celebrates the dismissal of Australia’s captain Steven Smith, right. (AP Photo)
And it was Pandya who managed to get India back into the game. The all-rounder may not have the pace, but on conditions where there is no seam movement, uses his off-cutters, back of the length deliveries and short-pitched balls to good effect. At his pace, there is little margin for error with bouncers, especially in conditions like these, but he is very intelligent with it. He can slightly drag it outside off, taking pace off the ball, forcing the batsmen to fetch it.
Off his second ball, he nearly had Head, only for Shubman Gill to drop it at mid-wicket. Off the fourth delivery, he bowled it short and wide, and Head fell for the temptation, only to find the fielder at third-man.
India’s Hardik Pandya, right, celebrates with teammate Virat Kohli. (AP Photo)
Off his next over, having made Steve Smith guessing with a slower-ball first up, he followed it up with a scrambled-seam ball that held its line to induce a nick. It was his variation that did in Marsh. With the field seemingly set for a short ball, he hurled a full leg cutter – not the regular offcutter- and had Marsh stumbling out for a drive, only to edge it on to his stumps.

With Ravindra Jadeja finding his rhythm straight away, and two new batsmen in the crease, Rohit went for the kill, bringing on Kuldeep Yadav for Pandya. On a black soil pitch that had turn and grip, and Pandya’s wickets’ pegging back Australia, Kuldeep found an opportunity to go on the offensive. It was Pandya’s spell that allowed Kuldeep that luxury. Having got Australia off the hook in the first, India accounted for 7 wickets in the second powerplay, giving away only 148 runs in 30 overs, courtesy an incisive spell from Pandya.
And he came on at a critical time to bat, counterattacking initially before soaking up the pressure of fall of Virat Kohli, taking ownership of the chase. He fell, with India still 52-runs adrift, and India will hope he can shepherd them home in the future in similar situations. Much will depend on him if India are to do well in the ODI world cup.