Former Indian batter Ambati Rayudu has slammed Hardik Pandya’s critics after India lifted their second T20 World Cup title by beating South Africa by seven runs. Pandya was booed by the Indian crowd throughout the IPL 2024 as he could not deliver the goods while leading Mumbai Indians. However, Pandya was able to turn the tables in the T20 World Cup 2024 as he delivered with both bat and ball.
The right-hander scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 in the T20I showpiece. Pandya also scalped 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.61.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya also got the big wicket of Heinrich Klaasen with a wide slower delivery on the first ball of the 17th over in the all-important final when South Africa needed 26 off 24 balls.
Pandya was then given the final over by Rohit Sharma when 16 runs were needed. The all-rounder was able to get rid of dangerous David Miller as Suryakumar Yadav took a brilliant catch at the boundary rope. Pandya returned with impressive figures of 3-20 in the three overs he bowled in the final.
After India’s win, Pandya was seen in tears as he was very emotional after bowling the final over.
“I think it is great on his part. Such great mental strength and now I dare anybody to boo him in India. You know, if you can. If you can try and do that, you will know you will know it and he is an amazing individual and I have played with him, you know, in my state team. And he’s an amazing guy, an amazing human being, and that’s why that’s why he could come through this storm, get through this storm that he had just a few months back and to come back that strongly is unbelievable and you know he’s a world champion now,” Ambati Rayudu said on Star Sports.
“He’s been a match winner for India for a very, very long time and today he has shown it again. You know his value in the fight by picking that wicket of Klaasen and then totally finishing the game for India. Look at that. Look at that emotion,” he further added.
India will next take on Zimbabwe in a five-match T20I series.
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