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Picture Credit: Twitter

Former India player and Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra has expressed that his IPL team captain Hardik Pandya should have taken the single in the final over during the 1st T20I against South Africa. Nehra addressed that Pandya should have exchanged the strike as it was Dinesh Karthik batting on the other end and not him. While talking to a cricket media outlet, Nehra said, “He should have taken a single in that final over. Dinesh Karthik was at the other end, it wasn’t me.”

Ashish Nehra, later praised, Hardik Pandya’s ability to take up any role in the team in any format. He said, “Hardik Pandya is such an actor that can play any role. Be it, a hero, or a villain. If you want him to play the heroine, he can do that also, because he has the ability and the game to bat in any situation.”

He can bat anywhere because of his ability: Nehra

“Not just in T20I cricket but also in the 50-over format and Test cricket. He has incredible ability in his batting. He can score runs in No. 4 and No. 3 as well. Hardik Pandya has played this finisher’s role for a long time. He can bat anywhere because of his ability and the work he has done,” he continued.

But despite Hardik Pandya’s incredible performance with bat where he scored 31 runs in 12 balls, South Africa chased down the total of 212 with five balls to spare. The stars for the Proteas were the duo of Rassie Van Der Dussien and Pandya’s IPL teammate David Miller who together scored 132 runs in the chase. 

You need two players playing a part while chasing: Miller

After the match, Miller won the Player of the Match and talked about his performance. He said, “Obviously, a lot of hard work has gone in over the last few years understanding my game a lot better. You need two players playing a part while chasing. Rassie played phenomenally well at the back end with some big overs. 

“Chuffed with the result. Just try and hang in there was the chat (With Rassie). He was trying to go but he wasn't getting it. Just about limiting dot balls and waiting for that loose ball. Belief (one thing that has transformed his career). Understanding winning more games and more consistency gives you more belief. I am pretty open to bat anywhere. Just want to make a difference,” he added.