DUBAI: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Sunday, elicited the 2017 Champions Trophy final shortcoming against Pakistan after his side settled their third title by beating New Zealand here at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
In the blockbuster final of the 2017 edition between ferocious rivals Pakistan and India, the then-defending champions had been compact to 54/4 while chasing a mammoth 339 when Pandya walked out to bat at number six.
The men in blue slid to 54/5 in the next over when former India captain MS Dhoni fell victim to in-form Hasan Ali.
The all-rounder then threw a scathing attack on the momentum-filled Pakistanโs bowling unit and shattered four fours and six sixes on his way to a 43-ball 76 before getting run out due to a mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja.
His sacking denied India any chance of a comeback as Pakistan boated to a thumping 180-run victory to clinch their maiden Champions Trophy title.
โAlways amazing to win an ICC event. I remember 2017 very closely, couldn’t finish that time,โ said Hardik Pandya after India won their third Champions Trophy title.
โVery satisfied to have done it here. KL was calm, he took his hazards at the right time. He has enormous talent, no one can time it as well as him,โ he added.
Set to hunt a modest 252-run target in the final, India securely knocked the winning runs for the loss of six wickets and six balls to spare, thanks to a roasting half-century up the order by skipper Rohit Sharma.
Batting first, New Zealand only achieved 251 in their allotted overs despite Daryl Mitchellโs half-century as a combined effort from the Indian bowlers desisted the Blackcaps from amassing a big total.
