While the pace-bowling all-rounder Hardik Pandya is playing an essential role for the national team, his elder brother Krunal Pandya, the spin-bowling all-rounder, has just started to show his calibre. On Friday (8 February), the 27-year-old elder brother won the Player of the Match award for his excellent bowling performance in the Auckland T20I. Later, his younger brother shared a prideful tweet for him.
In the first T20I of the series at Wellington on last Wednesday (6 February), Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya played together for the national team for the first time. Though India lost that game, both remained in the playing XI for the second T20I at Auckland.
As a left-arm spinner, Krunal Pandya played a vital role for India to win the Auckland T20I. After the host side decided to bat first, the left-arm spinner put the host under-pressure at the very early stage. Out of the top four New Zealand batsmen, Krunal Pandya dismissed three batsmen, and it resulted in 50/4 for the hosts.
His first over in the game was the last over of the powerplay in New Zealand innings. In that over, the left-arm spinner bagged two wickets and provided a perfect start for the team.
At first, he dismissed the Kiwi opener, Colin Munro, for just 12 runs after Rohit Sharma took the catch at cover. On the last ball of that over, he trapped Daryl Mitchell (1) for the lbw. However, it was a controversial decision as the TV umpire failed to recognise an inside edge during the DRS.
In his next over, Krunal Pandya picked the big wicket of Kane Williamson (20) and once again it came through the lbw.
Later, the host side controlled the innings but failed to come out from that situation. New Zealand finally managed to score 158/8 in 20 overs. Meanwhile, Krunal Pandya finished the game with the bowling figures of 4-0-28-3.
India won the game easily
In reply, India easily chased down that target. The openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan had a solid start with 79-runs partnership. Rohit Sharma scored 50 runs, and on the other hand, Shikhar Dhawan scored run-a-ball 30.
Later, Vijay Shankar lost his wicket for 14 runs, but Rishabh Pant and MS Dhoni calmly guided the visiting side to the victory. India reached the target in 18.5 overs while Rishabh Pant was not out on 40 runs and MS Dhoni score 20 not out. With this victory, India levelled the series by 1-1 with one match to go.
Proud of you big brother
After the end of the match, Krunal Pandya won the Player of the Match award. It was his second T20I Player of the Match award.
Later, Hardik Pandya posted a picture of him and his brother and wrote on that, “Proud of you big bro @krunalpandya24”
Proud of you big bro @krunalpandya24 ???❤ pic.twitter.com/w1BDPqheES
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) February 8, 2019