Why was Hardik Pandya smiling when he got out?
NZ
IND
New Zealand chose to bat.
CAN
NAM
Canada chose to bat.
NZ-W
SL-W
NZ Women won by 98 runs
VIC
SOA
South Aust won by 4 wickets
Post India’s dramatic win against Australia in the Champions Trophy semi-final, Axar Patel had a few questions for Hardik Pandya, who scored a quick-fire 28 from 24 balls. He hit three sixes, but heaved the fourth to long-on safely into Glenn Maxwell’s hands, with six still to get to win. Anyone else would have been dejected, says Axar Patel to Hardik, but you walked back smiling, while the dressing room was melting down.
“I knew those sixes had done their job,” says Hardik. Simple.
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Shami, Rohit, Shreyas Iyer and Gill were the fielders who couldn’t hold on
Shreyas Iyer couldn’t latch on to this chance from Rachin Ravindra • ICC/Getty Images
India were far from their best on the field after they were asked to bowl by New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final in Dubai. They put down as many as four catches which came in two pairs, both in consecutive overs, first with the new ball and then in the middle overs off left-arm spinners Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel. The batters who got lives were Rachin Ravindra (twice), Daryl Mitchell and Glenn Phillips. Here’s a list of how the chances went down:
6.3 – Mohammed Shami to Ravindra, 1 run, Shami fingertips a catch, it’s a drop and he calls the physio. He was in his follow-through, looked like he was getting upright but then realised the ball was going highish to his left. The hands might have come in the way of the eyes, he tried to take it with fingers pointing up. Left leg was dangling in the air as he tried to take it on the move. Ball burst past and landed behind him. Was a fullish length ball angling in towards middle and leg, Ravindra tried to punch it to the bowler’s right but the bat twirled upon impact
Ravindra was on 28 at the time and got another life in the next over, on 29:
7.1 – Varun to Ravindra, 2 runs, Another chance down, toughie again. Shreyas was running to the right from deep midwicket, he was sliding for a lowie, was fully outstretched and he made contact. He started quickly, ran 21 metres, slower down towards the end, ball didn’t pop off the hands so much as poured below. He nearly fell face first and stayed there in disappointment as a team-mate cleaned up.
The two chances didn’t cost India much as Ravindra was bowled by Kuldeep Yadav’s first delivery at the start of the 11th over, and he was gone for 37.
34.5 – Patel to Mitchell, 2 runs, Rohit drops a one-hander at midwicket. He leapt up, got his right hand up but tipped it over. He falls on his back as the ball rolls into the deep. He was 27 metres away, timed his jump okay but was done for pace. Likely to be marked as a tough chance. 93ks ball wasn’t that short, Mitchell went for a powerful pull nonetheless, went flat
35.6 – Jadeja to Phillips, 1 run, Gill drops one this time, running to the left from deep square leg. He slid, a bit of the turf came off as the knee went into the ground. He reached out low to the left, got both hands on it but it popped to the left, into the ground. Replays show he tried to claw the ball with ball palms coming towards the centre from the side, but the grabbage doesn’t work. Jadeja raises his hands but manages half a smile. Was a shortish ball on middle, 102ks, didn’t rise as much as Phillips expected. He, like Mitchell, went through with the pull. Got it off the base of the bat
Phillips’ chance didn’t cost India much either. He was on 27 when Gill put him down and Phillips was gone overs later for 34, foxed by Varun Chaktravarthy’s googly. Mitchell, however, went on to make a half-century and was eventually dismissed for 63 in the 46th over by Shami.
Rohit, Gill, Iyer and Shami spill chances in Champions Trophy final
Rohit Sharma imitates Hardik Pandya’s monstrous six in unseen footage in front Gambhir; Jay Shah’s reaction is gold
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya may not have top-scored for the team in their thrilling four-wicket win against Australia in the Champions Trophy semifinal, but he played a significant role in the run chase of 265. His fiery knock of 28 helped India wrap up the game with 11 balls to spare as they made the Champions Trophy final for the third consecutive time in a row.
Hardik walked out with India needing 49 to win from 44 balls. The team had just lost their set batter Virat Kohli, who was dismissed for 84 runs. After struggling against the slower deliveries from Nathan Ellis, Hardik broke free from the shackles with three huge sixes, which instantly reduced the equation in favour of India and put the team within touching distance of a victory.
One of those sixes, smashed against Tanveer Sangha in the fifth ball of the 45th over, landed straight into the Royal Box of the Dubai International Stadium where ICC chairman Jay Shah was seated. The former BCCI secretary was all smiles, watching that shot, as he quickly collected the ball and threw it back into the ground.
In unseen footage that emerged on social media on Thursday, India captain Rohit Sharma is seen imitating Hardik’s six in front of the all-rounder, head coach Gautam Gambhir, and Shah after the match against Australia in Dubai. Gambhir could not stop smiling as Shah was seen telling Rohit his exact reaction at that moment.
India will take on New Zealand in the Champions Trophy final on Sunday in Dubai. The Black Caps qualified after beating South Africa in the second semifinal of the tournament on Wednesday by 50 runs in Lahore.
India own a 61-50 head-to-head record against the Kiwis in ODI cricket and 2-1 in Champions Trophy, which includes their group-stage win earlier in this ongoing tournament. New Zealand had, however, defeated India by four wickets in their only other meeting in the ICC tournament, which took place 25 years back in the final in Nairobi.
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Hardik Pandya’s fiery knock of 28 helped India wrap up the game with 11 balls to spare against Australia in the semifinal
India face New Zealand in final
Hardik Pandya Reveals Why He Was Smiling Despite Getting Out In Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal
India entered the Champions Trophy 2025 final after a sweet victory over Australia in the semi-final. The side chased down a target of 265 – the highest against Australia in ICC ODI events – thanks to significant contributions by a number of their batters. While (84) and (45) had laid the platform, the pressure to finish the game was on the shoulders of and . Pandya hit three big sixes in a crucial cameo, helping India get over the line.
