Former Team India wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik praised Hardik Pandya after India’s win over Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal. Karthik highlighted Pandya’s special ability to bring flexibility to the team, something that no one else can offer.
Dinesh Karthik Praises Hardik Pandya’s Flexibility in ICC Champions Trophy 2025
India reached the final of an ICC tournament by beating Australia by four wickets in the first semifinal at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday, March 4. Chasing a target of 265, Virat Kohli played a key role, scoring 84 off 98 balls. Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul also contributed with important innings.
In a video shared by the ICC on Instagram, Dinesh Karthik mentioned that Hardik Pandya can be used as a fast bowler with the new ball. He highlighted that Pandya’s impact goes beyond just scoring runs and taking wickets, as his presence enables India to field their strongest possible XI.
“For Hardik Pandya, if you look at him, he gives to the Indian team what no one else can on that roster -flexibility. If you have Hardik Pandya, you can use him as a fast bowler with the new ball,” Karthik said.
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“You have depth in your batting because you have Jadeja coming in at number 8, and that’s the beauty of Hardik Pandya. It’s not the quantum of runs or wickets that he gets; it’s the balance that he brings. The best team that you can put out on the park is enabled by Hardik Pandya, and that holds a lot of value,” he added.
Watch the video:
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Australia were all out for 264 runs in 49.3 overs after choosing to bat first. Captain Steve Smith and Alex Carey both scored half-centuries. Mohammed Shami took three wickets, while Varun Chakravarthy and Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each. Hardik Pandya also got one wicket in his spell.
Hardik Pandya’s Contributions with Bat and Ball Lead India to Victory
Hardik scored 28 off 24 balls, hitting three sixes and a four. He was out after hitting a catch to Glenn Maxwell at long-on, with India needing just six runs from 14 balls to win. Earlier, he had scored 45 off 45 balls against New Zealand in India’s final Group A match.
Hardik Pandya has played 92 ODI matches for India since his debut in 2016. The 31-year-old has scored 1,858 runs, averaging 33.18, with a strike rate of 110.93, including 11 half-centuries. With the ball, he has taken 90 wickets in 86 innings at an economy rate of 5.56, with best bowling figures of 4/24.
Pandya will next be seen in action during the final match of the ongoing tournament, which is scheduled to take place in Dubai on Sunday, March 9. The second semifinal between South Africa and New Zealand will be played in Lahore on March 5, with the winner advancing to the final.
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