Hardik Pandya Over The Moon to Receive Man-of-Match Award on ODI Debut
Hardik Pandya took three wickets for 31 runs in his ODI debut and was adjudged the Man of the Match in India's six wicket win over New Zealand at Dharamsala
Highlights
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Hardik Pandya was awaded Man of the Match in Dharamsala ODI
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Hardik took three wickets for 31 runs on his ODI debut
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India beat NZ by 6 wickets to take a 1-0 lead in 5-match series
Hardik Pandya made a sensational ODI debut, taking three wickets as India outclassed New Zealand by six wickets in the first ODI at Dharamsala to give the hosts a 1-0 lead in the five-match series.
Pandya, who was adjudged Man of the Match in his debut ODI, said, "On a debut, getting the Man of the Match is special. This moment I will cherish in my life. Very happy.
"Good to be back, I was nervous a bit, but I bowled a lot in Australia and the domestic season. I wasn't looking to bowl fast, wanted to bowl with rhythm. On this wicket, I was focusing on a Test match length, a good length," said Hardik, who took three wickets for 31 runs.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni heaped praise on his bowlers for their superb show but also said that he was surprised at the pitch helping the pacers.
"Fantastic performance from the fast bowlers. We had no clue it would help the fast bowlers," Dhoni said.
"Hardik (Pandya) exploited the good length, a short of a good length. Umesh is somebody who has been quite quick consistently, he has gone from fit to one of the fittest. Hardik is deceptive, you think he'd bowl 132, but he crosses 135 consistently," Dhoni said.