'Finally someone says it': AB de Villiers' blunt remark on Hardik-Tilak 50 controversy

The 'Men in Blue' under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, displayed a solid performance against West Indies in the third T20I and won the match by seven wickets. Amidst the win, the match also witnessed a major controversy wherein, Pandya left his non-striker Tilak Varma remained stranded on 49* runs and finished the match with a six. The Indian fans didn't like Pandya's gesture and considered it as a 'selfish act'. 

3 things you need to know 

• Team India needed 160 runs to win the third T20I against West Indies 
• Tilak Varma continued his dream form in T20I and missed out on his second half-century by just one run 
• Hardik Pandya is receiving a lot of backlash from the fans for not allowing Tilak Varma to complete his half-century 

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Harsha Bhogle hits back at critics over Hardik-Tilak controversy 

Veteran cricket commentator and expert Harsha Bhogle has given a strong reply to the critics slamming Hardik Pandya for not letting Tilak Varma complete his half-century. Bhogle believes that a half-century in T20 cricket is not a milestone other than a century. The cricket expert further said that in today's world, we are too obsessed with individual achievements in a team's sport. Harsha stated that in T20 cricket half centuries should not be recorded as individual stats whereas scoring runs quickly is what matters in the end. Harsha Bhogle wrote in a tweet: 

I am puzzled by the discussion around Tilak Varma missing out on a 50. It isn't a landmark, in fact other than a century (which is rare), there are no landmarks in T20 cricket. We are far too obsessed with individual achievement within a team sport. I don't believe 50s should be…

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 10, 2023

AB de Villiers agrees with Harsha Bhogle's statement 

(Former South Africa skipper AB de Villiers during the Cricket World Cup 2015 / Image: AP) 

Former South African cricketer AB de Villiers has favored Harsha Bhogle over his statement in the Hardik Pandya-Tilak Varma controversy in the third IND vs WI T20I match. de Villiers in his reply to Bhogle's tweet wrote: 

Thank you thank you thank you. Finally someone says it!

— AB de Villiers (@ABdeVilliers17) August 10, 2023

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Though, Hardik Pandya's decision was not liked by the fans and also left former India opener Aakash Chopra baffled. Chopra while speaking on his YouTube channel said: 

Hardik comes to bat... now this is interesting. Hardik tells him it's important to remain not out, don't get carried away. Then Hardik plays the big shots himself... you don't need NRR, it would've made no difference. Hadik told Tilak to go easy, but tried to hit big shots himself. You needed 2 runs off 13 balls. He could have taken a single and given Tilak a strike and he smashed a six. 

The Indian cricket team needed six runs to win off the final three overs with Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma at the crease. The first four balls of the 18th over of Windies pacer Alzarri Joseph were played for singles which left two runs needed from the final 14 balls. 

With two runs needed off the final 14 balls and Tilak Varma batting on 49 at the non-striker end, skipper Hardik Pandya could have easily played the ball for a single and given a chance to Tilak for completing his second T20I half-century. However, Pandya opted to go the other way and finished the match with a six.