Hardik Pandya, an all-rounder for India, spoke about a conversation he had with his close friends before the game. Pandya stood his own and struck a resolute 40 against Pakistan while Virat Kohli lit up the other end with pyrotechnics.
Pandya stated, “I was extremely glad to be at the scenario I was at,” in a tape released by BCCI. Being here, representing my nation, and being surrounded by such amazing people and cricketers I just had a feeling, you know, so before the game, I took a gamble and told everyone in my life who was dear to me—my mother, my manager, my brother, my wife, my sister-in-law, and my sister. I texted them to let them know that I was going to put on a show for them tonight and that everything I did was for them. I wanted to be held responsible. In the past, it has happened to a few people when I said something spectacular would happen. I’m not sure if i do it daily.”
Pandya joined Kohli in the match when India was in disarray at 31 for 4, scoring 40 off 37 balls in a partnership of 113 for the fifth wicket. While the all-rounder wasn’t at his most aggressive, Hardik, who earlier in the day had also taken three wickets with the ball during a strong stint, was crucial in enabling Kohli to play his natural game at the other end.