Watch: Hardik Pandya Smashes Six At Jay Shah During Champions Trophy 2025 Semifinal vs Australia

When Hardik Pandya came into the middle towards the end of India’s 265-run chase against Australia in the Champions Trophy 2025 semifinal at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the game was poised on the see-saw. A wicket for Australia could have easily changed the entire momentum of the clash.

Virat Kohli’s dismissal on 84 runs in 98 deliveries, thanks to five boundaries, brought the Steve Smith-led side back in the game as they smelt a tiny moment for making a mini-comeback in the contest.

Watch: Hardik Pandya’s brutal six nearly hits ICC chairman Jay Shah

The former secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the current chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Jay Shah, was present in Dubai to enjoy the first semifinal between India and Australia.

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After Kohli’s dismissal, Smith decided to bring the close in fielders. Tanveer Sangha’s four consecutive dot balls in the 45th over put huge pressure on Hardik Pandya, who was looking to break free to release the pressure. Sangha overpitched the fifth ball as the Baroda all-rounder cleared his front foot and smacked it downtown for a huge six.

The ball nearly hit Jay Shah, who was sitting on a couch and enjoying India’s brutal performance in the game. Shah picked up the ball and threw it back to the field. After a quiet 46th over from Nathan Ellis, the pressure came back on India.

On the fifth ball of the 47th over, Hardik Pandya thumped the slot delivery from Adam Zampa over long-off for a towering six. The Australian leg-spinner lopes the last ball of the over as Pandya bent his back leg and nailed it straight down the ground to nearly carry the side over the line.

The Indian all-rounder finished with 28 runs in 24 deliveries, shouldering on three sixes and one boundary to collect the four-wicket victory with 11 balls to spare.

Ex-RCB batter highlights Hardik Pandya’s importance in the Indian team

Even when the blue brigade won the T20 World Cup last year in the West Indies and the United States of America, Hardik Pandya balanced the Indian side, thanks to his batting and bowling skills. His impact with the ball allows Rohit Sharma to go with two genuine spinners in the side, while Ravindra Jadeja can bat at number eight to show their incredible depth in the batting department.

The former Indian wicket-keeper batter, Dinesh Karthik, reckoned that Pandya’s impact in the blue bride can’t be expressed in runs and wickets, as he allows the management to field the best possible eleven in the side.

“For Hardik Pandya, if you look at him, he gives to the Indian team what no one else can on that roster—flexibility. If you have Hardik Pandya, you can use him as a fast bowler with the new ball.” Karthik explained.

“You have depth in your batting because you have Jadeja coming in at number 8, and that's the beauty of Hardik. It's not the quantum of runs or wickets that he gets; it's the balance that he brings.” The former RCB batter addressed.

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India hopes Hardik Pandya to gain full fitness before the Champions Trophy 2025 final

For a moment, when Hardik returned for a quick single, he pulled up in the middle as many thought he perhaps had injured his hamstring. But he stayed nearly till the end to take the side home.

The blue brigade has four days for recovery and hopes that Pandya gains his full fitness ahead of the final of the Champions Trophy 2025 on March 09 in Dubai.