Team India vice-captain Hardik Pandya got trolled on social media on Thursday after he denied a single to veteran wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Karthik (DK) who made his return to the Indian cricket after three years.
“Hardik Pandya denying Dinesh Karthik the strike on the last ball as if DK is a tailender,” a Dinesh Karthik supporter said on Twitter.
Bad attitude by Hardik pandya for not giving strike to Dinesh karthik, doesn't know how to respect senior.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJ0hns) June 9, 2022
Lol hitting on flat decks of 55m shorter long on boundary and consider himself oversmart, dream for him to finish game like DineshKarthik did in Nidhas trophy.#INDvsSA
Denying strike to DK? Conceding a dot? No matter your form, no matter the score, not good Hardik. Even AB de Villiers at 98 would take that single. #INDvsSA
— Rudransh Khurana (@rudraaaansh) June 9, 2022
IPL jeetne ke baad Hardik ahankaari ban gaya hai
— Karan (@karannpatelll) June 9, 2022
Bad attitude by Hardik pandya for not giving strike to Dinesh karthik, doesn't know how to respect senior.
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJ0hns) June 9, 2022
Lol hitting on flat decks of 55m shorter long on boundary and consider himself oversmart, dream for him to finish game like DineshKarthik did in Nidhas trophy.#INDvsSA
A third posted on the micro-blogging platform: “Hardik Pandya refused to take a single on the penultimate ball of the 20th over even when Dinesh Karthik was the at the other end. Wooooo!”
Meanwhile, former India fast bowler Ashish Nehra who was the head coach of Hardik Pandya’s Indian Premier League franchise the Gujarat Titans trolled him for refusing to give Dinesh Karthik the strike.
“He should have taken a single before the last ball. It was Dinesh Karthik at the other end, not me,” Nehra joked.
“Hardik Pandya is someone who can play all kinds of roles. He has got every type of batting up his sleeve. We have seen him performing in Tests and ODIs as well. With his batting ability, he can perhaps bat at any position… be it No.3 or 4 spot. He was captain for Gujarat and contributed with the ball as well. It was a different role. Before that, he wasn’t bowling much and was batting down the order. He is back in his old role tonight… but he has got the ability to pull off any role with ease,” Nehra added.