India 1-0 lead against England
India batsman Krunal Pandya smashed the fastest fifty by an ODI debutant during the first match against England. Here on Tuesday and broke down remembering his father who died in January this year after suffering a heart attack.
The 30-year-old Krunal was handed the India cap by his younger brother and star all-rounder Hardik.
Krunal broke down while being interviewed by the host broadcaster after his blistering unbeaten knock of 58 (31 balls).
“This one is for my father,” was all that Krunal could tell commentator Murali Kartik. When asked about his unbeaten knock before being overwhelmed by emotions.
Krunal, Rahul show the way in the end
He was enveloped by Hardik in a tight hug soon after.
For Krunal, the last three months have been an emotional roller-coaster.
In January, he had an ugly tiff with state-mate Deepak Hooda who accused the Baroda captain of bullying him during the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy camp.
Hooda left the camp after that and was subsequently suspended for the entire season by the Baroda team management. Which backed Krunal on the matter.
Weeks after the controversy, Krunal lost his father Himanshu and had to leave the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy bio-bubble to be with his family.
Debutant Krunal Pandya and KL Rahul provided a vital partnership in the end. After a steady start to steer India past 300-mark against England on Tuesday at the MCA Stadium in Gahunje, Pune.
Invited to bat, India scored 317 for 5 in the first ODI.
Solid innings by Dhawan ended without a century after being caught at 98. He formed a crucial partnership with captain Kohli to keep India’s score pulsating gradually.
India got off to a cautious start as openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan put on 39 runs. The score would have been more but England’s ground-fielding was up to the mark and the visitors clearly saved 20 runs in the first ten.