In a match full of great moments, Hardik Pandya’s brilliant catch in Bangladesh’s 13th over was hailed as the ‘catch of the season’ in the second T20I. India and Bangladesh at Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi. The catch not only galvanized the crowd but also broke the backbone of Bangladesh’s chase and sealed India’s 86-run victory.
Hardik Pandya’s acrobatic catch near the boundary
13th over, bowled by Bangladesh’s Varun Chakraborty Rishad Hussain tried to clear the ropes with a big shot towards wide length. The shot was destined for a boundary but settled at deep mid-wicket, Pandya raced to long-on to the left, covering incredible ground at incredible speed. Running at full tilt, Pandya lunged forward and took a clean, low catch inches from the boundary, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
The balance, judgment and timing shown by Pandya was nothing short of exceptional. Despite having to cover a wide area, he showed his athleticism and commitment on the pitch, managing to keep the ball firmly in place. This stunning moment proved crucial for India as it further disrupted Bangladesh’s already struggling chase.
Rishad Hossain, who scored 9 runs off 10 balls, including two boundaries, was dismissed by Pandya’s brilliance. His dismissal rocked Bangladesh at a critical juncture from which they never managed to recover, posting just 135/9 in 20 overs.
We present the video:
Athletics at its best! 😎
Great run from Hardik Pandya 🔥🔥
Live – https://t.co/Otw9CpO67y#TeamIndia | #INDvBAN | @hardikpandya7 | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/ApgekVe4rB
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 9, 2024
ALSO SEE: Anushka Sharma dominates Virat Kohli in creek cricket
India’s dominance seals the series win
With this win, India took a 2-0 lead in the three-match series. India’s bowling attack, led by Varun Chakravarthy (2/19), Nitish Reddy (2/23) and others kept the pressure on the visitors, securing an easy win. Most memorable, however, was Pandya’s brilliant catch that ended Bangladesh’s hopes of a comeback.
At the beginning of the day, India posted a mammoth total of 221/9Nitish Reddy’s explosive 74 off 34 balls and Rinku Singh’s vital 53 led the way. Rishad Hossain was the pick of Bangladesh’s bowlers, claiming 3 wickets for 55 runs.
India now head into the third and final T20I with a chance to complete the series cleanly, while Bangladesh will be looking for a consolation win.
