Not Sanju Samson Or Suryakumar Yadav! 31-Year-Old Star Wins Player Of The Series Award In India-Bangladesh T20Is

India beat Bangladesh by 133 runs in the third and final T20I of the three-match series. In the match played at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad on Saturday (October 12), India rode on Sanju Samson’s maiden T20I century (111) and captain Suryakumar Yadav’s 75-run knock from 35 balls to post a total of 297 runs on the board for the loss of six wickets in 20 overs and then successfully defended it by restricting Bangladesh to 164 for 7.

For his super show with the bat in the last match of the series, Sanju won the Player of the Match award, but neither he nor captain Surya were picked for the Player of the Series award. Instead, the best player of the T20I series award was bagged by star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pandya, who celebrated his 31st birthday on Friday (October 11), played in all three matches of the T20I series and, with the help of 11 fours and 8 sixes, amassed a total of 118 runs.

He finished as the second leading run scorer in the T20I series and also managed to pick up a total of one wicket.

In the series opener played in Gwalior on October 6, Hardik finished with figures of 1 for 26 in four overs and then top-scored for India by remaining unbeaten on 39 runs from 16 balls. In the second T20I, he came out to bat at No. 6 and scored 32 runs off 19 deliveries, and in the final match, Hardik smashed 47 runs from just 18 balls. During his stay at the crease in the third T20I, he scored four fours and as many sixes for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side.

After winning the Player of the Series award, Hardik praised Surya and head coach Gautam Gambhir for giving freedom to the players.

“The kind of freedom the skipper and the coach have given, that has been fantastic to the whole group. That is coming to all the players who are playing. At the end of the day, this sport, if you can enjoy it, is the best way you can get the most out of yourself. When the dressing room is enjoying, when everyone’s enjoying everyone’s success, you feel like doing more. I think that has contributed a lot. Body has been fantastic, and God has been kind to help me out. The process continues; nothing changes. (His best shot today) Over the covers when I just chipped it,” Hardik was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.

The star all-rounder is not part of the Test series against New Zealand, which starts on October 16 in Bengaluru. He will next be seen in action for India in the four-match T20I series against South Africa, which starts on November 8 in Durban.