Disappointed with the result of the first Test match at Cape Town, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya on January 9 stated that the team ‘will come back stronger and harder’ in the second Test match of the three-match series.
Hardik Pandya, who impressed all with his all-round performance in the first Test at Newlands, took to his Twitter handle to share his disappointment after India lost the first match by 72 runs. He wrote:
Grateful for all your wishes and support throughout the first test. Disappointed that we fell short the way we did. We will come back harder and stronger in Pretoria! #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/LUCJtTcx73
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) January 9, 2018
Pandya scored a well-deserving 93 in India’s first innings. His innings helped Team India bridge the gap with a vital 99-run eighth wicket stand with Bhuvneshwar Kumar (25).
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Coming in after the fall of Ravichandran Ashwin — when the Indians were tottering at 81/6 — Pandya and Bhuvneshwar Kumar steadied the ship after bowling out Proteas for 286 on Day 1. The Baroda batsman hit 14 boundaries and hit one over the fence in his 93 runs innings.
Pandya, however, failed in the second innings with the bat as Team India failed to chase down the 208 runs target set by the South Africans.
India 135 all out. Proteas win by 72 runs wIth a career best for VernoN Philander who finishes with impressive figures of 6/42 #SAvIND #ProteaFire #FreedomSeries pic.twitter.com/UpRtam3Nvr
— Cricket South Africa (@OfficialCSA) January 8, 2018
With the ball, Pandya returned with figures of 1/53 and 2/27.
The second match between India and South Africa will be played at SuperSport Park in Centurion. The second Test will start off on January 13.
South Africa is leading the series 1-0.
