Hardik Pandya hails Virat Kohli for 'pointers' that aided him to enhance his batting show

In the thrilling ODI series between India and the West Indies, the Men in Blue showcased their dominance with a resounding victory in the decider match on Tuesday.

Led by stand-in captain Hardik Pandya, the Indian team delivered an outstanding performance at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad, winning by a massive margin of 200 runs. The match was driven by remarkable performances from several Indian players, including Hardik Pandya, Mukesh Kumar, Shubman Gill, and Ishan Kishan.

3 things you need to know

• India defeated West Indies in the 3rd ODI to win the three-match series 2-1
• Hardik Pandya played a brilliant knock to help India win the series decider
• After the match, Pandya thanked Kohli for providing crucial batting tips

Also Read: IND Vs WI: Rohit Sharma And Virat Kohli Again Rested By Team India In 3rd ODI Against West Indies

Hardik Pandya credits Virat Kohli for stellar batting display

After the game, Hardik Pandya expressed his enthusiasm for matches with high stakes and acknowledged the importance of the victory, which was more than just an ordinary international game. He praised his teammates for their display of character and determination throughout the series. Pandya shone with the bat, scoring an impressive unbeaten 70 off 52 balls, guiding India to their best-ever total in the West Indies — a commanding 351 runs.

[Hardik Pandya and Virat Kohli celebrate the dismissal of Jayden Seales during their first ODI cricket match at Kensington Oval; Image: AP]

Hardik credited his exceptional batting performance in the match to a recent conversation with former India skipper Virat Kohli. Kohli's valuable insights and advice on spending more time at the crease played a significant role in Pandya's improved performance, and he expressed gratitude for Kohli's mentorship.

"I had a very wonderful chat with Virat a couple of days back, and the kind of input he gave me, he has seen me throughout the years. It's been almost seven or eight years of international cricket and he has seen me from day one. He had some pointers which really helped me. He just wanted me to spend some time on the crease and get used to the 50-over game as well because we have played so many T20 matches and yeah, that kind of stayed in my mind and I was just waiting for the opportunity. I'm really thankful to him for sharing that experience with me," Hardik said after the match.

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The first match saw India winning by five wickets, while the West Indies claimed a surprising victory in the second match, levelling the series 1-1. However, India's stellar performance in the final ODI match ensured a series victory for the visitors. India's stalwarts, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, were rested once again in the final ODI. India will now play a five-match T20I series against the same side. 

Image: Instagram/HardikPandya