Team India's star cricketer Hardik Pandya has made headlines by surpassing batting legend Virat Kohli to become the leading run scorer in the death overs (16-20th over) in T20Is for the nation. This milestone occurred during Team India's fourth T20I against England, which took place on January 31, 2025, at MCA in Pune. The Men in Blue secured the win, taking an unassailable 3-1 lead in the series with one match to go.
In this thriller, the 31-year-old all-rounder piled up a quickfire 53 off 30 balls, featuring four boundaries and four towering sixes. This inning not only contributed significantly to the home team posting 181 runs but also marked his fifth T20I half-century in the game.
The stylish right-handed batter's explosive batting has helped him amass 1068 runs in the death overs, surpassing Kohli's previous record of 1032 runs. The former India skipper's record was seen before his retirement from the shortest game version following the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Notably, Hardik Pandya's ability to perform under pressure has earned him the title "King of Runs" during the death overs in T20Is. In addition, the right-arm seamer also becomes the first Indian cricketer to achieve over 1500 runs, take over 50 wickets, and amass five half-centuries in the middle order of the game.
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Pandya's ability to quickly amass runs in the death overs are invaluable assets for India
Pandya's record-breaking milestone showcases his role as a crucial finisher for Team India in the shortest version of the game. The middle-order batter's aggressive batting style and ability to quickly amass runs in the death overs are invaluable assets for the Men in Blue, especially in the high-stakes encounter. The last game against England not only showcased Pandya's batting prowess but also solidified his spot as one of Team India's key players in the T20Is.