The superstar India National Cricket Team all-rounder Hardik Pandya displayed a brilliant gesture after hitting the England National Cricket Team batter Ben Duckett on the head with a brutal bouncer.
The incident involving Hardik Pandya and Ben Duckett took place during the second T20I of the five-match series at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chepauk, Chennai on Saturday, January 25.
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Hardik Pandya stuns Ben Duckett with a bouncer
Ben Duckett came to open the innings along with Phil Salt after the India National Cricket Team won the toss and invited the England National Cricket Team to bat first.
Duckett entered the match under pressure after his poor outing in the T20I series opener where he scored 4 runs off 4 balls before being dismissed by Arshdeep Singh in the 3rd over at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
In the second T20I, the 30-year-old left-handed opener didn’t start well against the Indian bowlers. Also, he faced a brutal blow on his helmet in the 2nd over, which was bowled by Hardik Pandya.
On the second ball of the over, the Indian all-rounder surprised the English batsman as he banged in a short ball. Duckett was through with his pull early and got hit on the side part of the helmet brutally.
Pandya instantly checked on the batter to see if the batter was fine, and the physio soon came out in the middle for a customary check-up. There was no major trouble for Duckett as he seemed to be fine and put his helmet back on to start batting.
However, he was not able to play a good innings and was dismissed for a 6-ball 3 by Washington Sundar in the 4th over.
Watch: Hardik Pandya’s brilliant gesture for Ben Duckett
Hardik Pandya hit Ben Duckett’s Helmet
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— Kirkit Xfarrt (@7_thala4Areason) January 25, 2025
Who Were the Top Performers for India in the 1st T20I?
India’s dominant 7-wicket victory over England in the 1st T20I at Eden Gardens in Kolkata was powered by outstanding individual performances from Abhishek Sharma and Varun Chakravarthy.
Abhishek Sharma set the stage on fire with the bat, playing a sensational knock of 79 runs off just 34 balls. Opening the innings, he smashed five fours and eight sixes while batting with a strike rate of 232.35.
He dismantled the England bowling attack with his attacking brand of cricket, ensuring India chased down the modest target of 133 in just 12.5 overs.
On the bowling side of things, Varun Chakravarthy was the MVP. He won the Player of the Match and was instrumental with the ball, delivering a match-winning spell of 3/23 in his four overs.
He broke the backbone of England’s middle order, dismissing Harry Brook, Liam Livingstone, and Jos Buttler, ensuring England could only post a below-par total.
Arshdeep Singh also made a significant impact, picking up two crucial wickets early in the innings. He dismissed Phil Salt for a duck and followed it up with Ben Duckett’s wicket, helping India seize the momentum right from the start. Spinner Axar Patel contributed with an economical spell, taking 2/22 in his four overs. These performances ensured India got off to a great start in the three-match series.