Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya became the fifth-highest run scorer in T20Is, surpassing former batsman Shikhar Dhawan.
During Friday’s fourth Twenty20 International match against England in Pune, Pandya achieved this climb up the rankings.
Pandya was crucial in the game, helping his team go from 79/5 to 181/9 in their 20 overs with a spectacular 53 in 34 balls, seven fours, and two sixes. He scored runs with a strike rate of more than 155.
Pandya has now amassed 1,803 runs at an average of 28.17 and a strike rate of 141.63 in 113 Twenty20 Internationals and 89 innings. His best score was 71*, and he has five half-centuries.
In contrast, Dhawan amassed 1,759 runs at a strike rate of 126.36 and an average of 27.92 in 68 games, with a top score of 92 and 11 fifties in 66 innings.
With 4,231 runs in 159 matches and 151 innings at an average of 32.05 and a strike rate of 140.89, former T20 World Cup winner Rohit Sharma leads India in T20I scoring. His greatest score was 121*, and he recorded five hundreds and thirty-two fifties. Following him are Suryakumar Yadav (2,596 runs in 82 matches in 78 innings at an average of 38.74, with four hundreds and 21 fifties) and Virat Kohli (4,188 runs in 125 matches at an average of 48.69, with a century and 38 fifties).
Prior to the game, England chose to field first after winning the toss. Pacer Saqib Mahmood (3/35) took captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Sanju Samson in a single over, reducing India to 12/3. India collapsed at 79/5 despite important blows from Abhishek Sharma (29 in 19 balls, with four boundaries and a six) and Rinku Singh (30 in 26 balls, with four boundaries and a six). India reached 181/9 in their 20 overs thanks to an 87-run partnership between Hardik Pandya (53 in 34 balls, with seven fours and two sixes) and Dube (53 in 30 balls, with four boundaries and four sixes). Adil Rashid (1/35) and Overton (4/32) both bowled excellent periods.
Ben Duckett (39 in 19 balls, seven fours) and Phil Salt (23 in 21 balls, four boundaries) gave England a strong start in the run-chase, scoring 62 runs for the first wicket. But the hosts recovered with to Indian spinners, and they left England at 95/4. Although Harry Brook managed to reach a half-century with 51 in 26 balls, five fours, and two sixes, Harshit (3/33) and spinner Ravi Bishnoi (3/28) took the most wickets. England lost by 15 runs after being held at 166.
Dube was named the “Player of the Match.” The series is now 3-1 in favour of India.