Chennai ODI hero Hardik Pandya’s Mumbai Indians connection

Hardik Pandya considers his blue and gold Mumbai Indians gloves lucky and it sure worked like a charm for the Indian cricket team allrounder against Australia cricket team in Chennai. But it remains to be seen whether Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be fine with him using club apparel

Indian cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya surely didn’t treat the Australia bowlers with kid gloves in his superb show in the rain-hit first ODI, which Virat Kohli’s side won by 26 runs under the Duckworth-Lewis method in Chennai.

Indian cricket team all rounder Hardik Pandya walks back to the pavilion after scoring a career-best 83 off just 66 deliveries against Australia cricket team in the 1st ODI in Chennai. One can clearly make out the Mumbai Indians team colours in the gloves he used during the knock.(AFP)

The 23-year-old first revived the Indian innings before laying into Australia cricket team leg-spinner Adam Zampa, hammering him for three sixes and a four in the 36th over which went for 24 runs and gave the innings great momentum.

Hardik Pandya hit a career-best 83 off just 66 deliveries and raised a 118-run partnership with former skipper MS Dhoni. He claimed two crucial wickets, that of skipper Steve Smith and Travis Head as well to undermine Australia as they chased a truncated target.

The real focus though was on his batting – more precisely his gloves.

Pandya batted with blue gloves alright to match his India attire, but they were darker because they were dug out of his Mumbai Indians kit bag. Hardik Pandya, who helped the Rohit Sharma-led side win the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year, considers the blue and gold gloves lucky.

No doubt, they worked like a charm but it remains to be seen whether Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would be fine with him using club apparel.