Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya reached a significant milestone on Sunday, completing 200 international wickets during India’s ICC Champions Trophy match against Pakistan.
Hardik delivered an impressive performance in the game, finishing with figures of 2/31 in eight overs at an economy rate of 3.87. He played a crucial role by dismissing Pakistan’s star batter Babar Azam, who had been striking boundaries fluently, and later removed a well-set Saud Shakeel, who had scored a half-century.
In his international career spanning 216 matches, Hardik has now taken 200 wickets at an average of 30.76, with his best bowling figures being 5/28—his only five-wicket haul. This achievement places him as the 24th-highest wicket-taker in Indian cricket history.
In 11 Test matches, he has claimed 17 wickets at an average of 31.05, with his best figures being 5/28. In ODIs, he has taken 89 wickets in 91 matches at an average of 35.26, with a best of 4/24. His T20I record includes 94 wickets in 114 matches at an average of 26.43, with his best figures being 4/16.
Hardik has maintained a solid record against Pakistan in ODIs, having taken 10 wickets at an average of 24.60, with his best performance being 2/31.
As for the match, Pakistan won the toss and opted to bat first. They started well, with Babar Azam (23 off 26 balls, including five boundaries) playing some elegant strokes in a 41-run opening partnership. However, after losing two quick wickets, they found themselves at 47/2.
A crucial 104-run stand between skipper Mohammed Rizwan (46 off 77 balls, with three fours) and Saud Shakeel (62 off 76 balls, with five fours) helped stabilize the innings, though they consumed a lot of deliveries. After their dismissal, Khushdil Shah (38 off 39 balls, including two sixes) put up a fight alongside Salman Agha (19) and Naseem Shah (14), but Pakistan was eventually bowled out for 241 in 49.4 overs.
India now requires 242 runs to stay in contention for the semifinals.