Asia Cup 2022: Hardik Pandya stars as India beat Pakistan by 5 wickets in last-over thriller

Hardik Pandya was the game-changer for India as he produced an exceptional all-round performance to propel Rohit Sharma & Co. to a thrilling 5-wicket win against arch-rivals Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2022 opener at the Dubai International Stadiumon Sunday. Hardik picked up a three-wicket haul before playing a match-winning knock of unbeaten 33 to take India home in a pressure run-chase.

After captain Rohit Sharma's decision to bowl first in the high-pressure clash, Indian bowlers made excellent use of the conditions and utilised the short ball well against the Pakistani batters to trouble them throughout their innings. Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the pick of the bowlers for India with a four-wicket haulwhile Hardik scalped three as Pakistan were skittled out for a paltry 147 in 20 overs.

It was expected to be a tough chase for the Men in Blue, considering the bounce on offer for the pacers and it did turn out to be a tricky one at the end. India once again got off to a shaky start as Naseem Shah sent opener KL Rahul packing on a duck in the very first over before Rohitand Virat Kohliadded 50 runs for the 2nd wicket.

The duo steadied the ship for the team but were dismissed in quick succession. While Rohit struggled for his 12 off 18 balls, Kohli played some fine strokesen route to 35 off 34 balls but once again failed to convert his startinto a big score.

After the duo's departure, Ravindra Jadeja, who surprisingly came out to bat at no.4, added 36 runs for the fourth wicket with Surykaumar Yadav. Suryakumar was cleaned up byShah after a run-a-ball 18 paving the way for Hardik's arrival as the all-rounder joinedforces with Jadeja in the middle and took India closer to the finishing line.

With 21 runs required off the final 12 deliveries in India's148-run chase, Hardik slammed three boundaries off four balls in the penultimate over from fast bowler Haris Rauf to bring the equation in India's favour before finishing things off in style in the final over.

Jadeja was dismissed on the very first delivery of the final over leaving India in a tricky spot despite just 7 runs needed as Dinesh Karthik arrived in the middle. However, Hardik looked unfazed by Jadeja's untimely dismissal and showed no signs of pressure even after playing a dot ball on the third delivery to leave sixruns to get off the last three balls.

The star all-rounder smacked a huge six in a nonchalant manneron the 4th delivery to take India home without breaking a sweat. It was a stunning all-round performance from Hardik as he followed up his three-wicket haul with a match-winning 33 to be named the Man of the Match in the marquee clash.

India recorded their biggest run-chase against Pakistan in a T20I game after nailing down the target of 148 runs in Dubai on Sunday as they got off to a winning start in Asia Cup 2022. Courtesy of Pandya's heroics,Men in Blue also managed to avenge their ten-wicket defeat against Babar Azam & Co. in the T20 World Cup last year.