NEW DELHI – In a historic moment for the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians’ skipper Hardik Pandya etched his name into the record books by becoming the first-ever captain to claim a five-wicket haul in the tournament’s history. This remarkable feat was achieved during a gripping match against the Lucknow Super Giants at the Ekana Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Pandya’s fiery spell saw him take 5 wickets for 36 runs, marking not only a historic moment for IPL but also his personal best in T20 cricket. His impactful performance came at crucial junctures of the game, starting with the dismissal of key LSG batsmen Nicholas Pooran (12), Rishabh Pant (2), and Aiden Markram (53) during the middle overs, effectively breaking the momentum after an explosive start by the Super Giants.
Returning in the final over with LSG aiming to surpass 200, Pandya faced a challenge from David Miller, who, on his way to completing 3000 IPL runs, smashed a six and a four off Pandya. However, Miller’s aggressive approach led to his dismissal on the next ball as he attempted another big hit. Pandya then sealed the innings by dismissing Akash Deep off the very next delivery, finishing with back-to-back wickets and conceding just three runs in the final three balls.
Thanks to Pandya’s heroics, Lucknow Super Giants were restricted to 203/8, marking only the second time a 200-plus total was achieved at this venue, following Kolkata Knight Riders’ 235/6 against LSG the previous year.
Hardik Pandya’s 5/36 not only surpassed his previous best T20 figures of 4/16 against New Zealand in 2023 but also marked a significant milestone in his captaincy career, showcasing his all-round prowess and leadership on the field.