Hardik Pandya hits 'Bye Bye' send off to Babar after dismissal

The allrounder’s new-ball spell in Sunday’s Champions Trophy game against Pakistan was an example of how he plugs the crucial holes in India’s ODI gameplan. Mohammed Shami, coming off a successful five-for had got off to a wretched start – seven wides in his 11-ball first over. If that wasn’t enough, he walked off the park to treat his ankle, after bowling the third over. The heat may have got to him, but there would have been concerns, what if Shami, having come back from a long injury layoff, can’t bowl again?

India though had in Hardik an insurance cover. He came on in the seventh over itself. An enforced change, but he found rhythm straightaway.

Babar Azam wasn’t off to a racy start in the Powerplay. One felt he had gauged the pitch behaviour and was unperturbed by the strike rate criticism around him. Two signature shots, a flick of the wrists and a cover drive served a reminder to young Harshit Rana that Azam wasn’t batting on reputation alone. But he had to bat on and make it count. Hardik though got one to nip off the seam, caught Azam’s outside edge and waved a little good-bye, casual enough not to earn the match referee’s wrath, but enough to revel in the achievement.