Upon winning the toss and opting to bat, Pakistan embarked on a remarkable start to their innings. Abdullah Shafique and Imam-ul-Haq initiated proceedings with an impressive flurry of early boundaries. Their opening partnership flourished, amassing 41 runs before Mohammed Siraj dismissed Shafique in the eighth over.
Despite the setback, Imam continued his fine form alongside skipper Babar Azam, as the two batsmen swiftly added over 30 runs to the total. In a tactical move, Rohit Sharma introduced Hardik Pandya into the bowling attack as the first change.
However, Pandya faced difficulties, conceding 18 runs in his initial two overs. He seemed destined for further punishment in the 13th over of the match, but a surprising turn of events was in store. Pandya began the over with a single off Babar, putting Imam on strike.
In response, Imam skillfully slashed the following delivery square of the wicket for a powerful boundary, elevating his score to 36 at a run-a-ball pace. His innings had been near flawless, marked by six well-executed boundaries. Meanwhile, Pandya appeared frustrated and under pressure.
Hardik Pandya mujhe bhi kala jadu sikha do taki apne crush ko impress kar saku pic.twitter.com/vyeYFe4MLs
— Ankita (@Memeswalimulagi) October 14, 2023
Sensing the urgency of the situation, Pandya took a moment before his next delivery. He bowed his head and engaged in a spirited conversation with himself, using hand gestures to refocus his attention on the task at hand.
Remarkably, this self-motivational talk proved highly effective. Imam, attempting a cover drive, produced a thick outside edge that was safely collected by KL Rahul behind the stumps. This wicket prompted Pandya to celebrate with passion, pumping his fist in the air, as he successfully turned the tide of the game.
