Hardik Pandya starred with his willow and helped Team India to a series-clinching win on Sunday. He played a quickfire-knock of 42 runs in just 22 balls studded with two sixes and three boundaries. He was poured with wishes from across the globe for guiding his side to a memorable win. Now, Michael Vaughan has seen the potential to replace Virat Kohli as the next global star of Indian cricket.
India won the toss and invited Australia to bat first in the 2nd T20I. The latter managed a mammoth total of 194 runs in stipulated 20 overs. Matthew Wade smashed a quick fifty for his team. Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell, and Moises Henriques also contributed well with the bat.
Coming onto the chase, Team India got off the mark with a good start. But, after 56 run opening stand, Men in Blue kept on losing wickets in crucial moments. In the end, all the responsibility came down on the shoulder of Hardik Pandya. He played a submissive knock of 42* runs off 22 balls and took his team to their 2nd consecutive win of the series. The Indian all-rounder finished the game in style with two big sixes in the final over of the game.
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Hardik Pandya Can Replace Virat Kohli In The Upcoming Years: Michael Vaughan
Michael Vaughan is impressed with the way Hardik Pandya has performed against Australia. He wants the Indian all-rounder to look beyond two or three years. The former England skipper opined that he has the caliber to replace Virat Kohli as the next global superstar.
“He has to look at the next three years. With the next T20 world cup being in India, obviously, the IPL being in India, the next 50-over World Cup is in India in 2023, Hardik Pandya has got a great opportunity to become the next global superstar,” Michael Vaughan was quoted as saying by Fox Sports.
“MS Dhoni, he had that mantle for many years. Virat Kohli has it now. It’s generally the Indian players that get put onto that pedestal and I think Hardik’s got a chance to be the next superstar,” he added.
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Now, all eyes are set upon India vs Australia 3rd T20I that will be played on December 8 in Sydney. Will Team India manage a historic whitewash against the hosts or not is a big debatable question taking round between the former cricketing greats.
