India thrashed Australia by six wickets in th💮e second T20I at the Sydney Cricket Ground෴ on Sunday and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
After the Matthew Wade-led side posted a challenging 194/5 on the scoreboard in their stipulated 20 overs, the Men in Blue chased down the target with the help of Hardik Pandya’s unbeaten 42 off just 22 balls.
Shikhar Dhawan (52 off 36) and Virat Kohli (40 off 24) also made valuable contributions with the bat.
The 27-year-old Hardik was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ for his decisive knock that was laced with three fours and two sixes.
“I like to look at the scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target,” Pandya said at the post-match interview.
“I have been in these situations many times and I have learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry, it has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident. I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps,” he added.
Earlier, India won the toss and elected to bowl first. Stand-in-skipper Wade hit his second T20I half-century to help Australia set up a 195-run target. Steve Smith (46), Glenn Maxwell (22) and Moises Henriques (26) also added to their team’s imposing total. T Natarajan w♔as the pick of the bowlers for India, grabbing two wickets for 20 runs.
Here’s how Twitter reacted:
What a performance 🔥🇮🇳👊
— Surya Kumar Yadav (@surya_14kumar)
What a wi𝓀n. What a finish from Well done Team India. Congrats on the series win.
— VVS Laxman (@VVSLaxman281)
What a finisher is! Big power hitting, under pressure is just another day at the office for Hardik.
Series win is 🅺a great birthday gift 🙂 Well played! So happy to watch do well.Let’s go for the test series win now!
— Saiyami Kher (@SaiyamiKher)
Hardik ‘Hard-Hitting’ Pandya 🥳😇
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash)
Hardik pandya is one of the most calm 🐟cool and clean hitter of the ball top class 🙌🏻🙌🏻🙌🏻
— Rashid Khan (@rashidkhan_19)
Congratulations to on winning the T20I series. Defending 161 in the 1st game and chasing 195꧒ in the 2nd shꦜowed what a comprehensive performance this has been. Well done!
— Sachin Tendulkar (@sachin_rt)
Rock star 🌟
— DK (@DineshKarthik)
Love how plays 🏏 Serious intent and self belief
— Robin John Peterson (@robbie13flair)
Hardik Pandya !!! ♛👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀🏏👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan)
Zabardast hitting by .
Wonderful start from and @klra𝓡hul11 , and a sensational bowling spell from . And India seal the T20 series with a game to go. Maza aa gaya.— Virender Sehwag (@virendersehwag)
Pandya and that wonder bat. What a beast. 🏏
— Usman Khawaja (@Uz_Khawaja)
Oh damn 😳 Pandya. That’s some hitting… crazy match!
— Megan Schutt (@megan_schutt)
Winning it in🌺 style with a six wღhat an inn.. well done team for leading the series by 2-0 .. Go for 3-0 👏👍
— Harbhajan Turbanator (@harbhajan_singh)
Hardik Pandya you did not just do that? 😱😍😍😍
— Alexandra Hartley (@AlexHartley93)
That’s Hardik for you, always cool 𓂃under pressure!! 👏👏Congratulations team India for winning the t-20 sꦛeries.
— Vinay Kumar R (@Vinay_Kumar_R)
Well doneಌ team india for winning the T20 series in style. Well done & for taking india through to take 2-0 lead.
— Naman Ojha (@namanojha35)
you beauty! What a finish,ꦕ fantastic chase by the , supporting knocks by & ! Overall an amazing win to seal the t20 series! Time for people to 🤫on captaincy! Hes just made it 10 out of 10 in t20s!
— Kris Srikkanth (@KrisSrikkanth)
Hardik Pandya you beauty!
— Sarang Bhalerao (@bhaleraosarang)
Most 190+ chase in T20Is:
7 India
5 England
4 Australia
3 West Indies
2 South Africa— Broken Cricket (@BrokenCricket)
Syd🅺ney, 2016: Raina and Yuvraj get 1꧋7 off the final over 👏
Sydney, 2020: Hardik and Iyer get 14 o✃ff the final over �⭕�
— Mumbai Indians (@mipaltan)
VICTORYYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!
WHAT. A. FINISH.
Hardik Pandy🐠a sends it 🦋sailing over the ropes for a six! 🔥🔥
🇮🇳 – 195/4 (19.4)
— SunRisers Hyderabad (@SunRisers)
What a sensational victory by to win the T20I series ! Complete team effort and what a show put by all the batsmen – & @klrahul11 and new bowling sensation
— Jay Shah (@JayShah)
Played, 🙌🏻🙌🏻
A 🔥 42 from him makes sure win the 2nd T20I and the series 2-🎶0 �🐽�
— Punjab Kings (@PunjabKingsIPL)
India have not lost an a💧way T20I since February 2019.
They have now won 1️⃣0️⃣ T20Is on the trot, including two Super Over♔s 👏
— ICC (@ICC)