Ireland vs India: Hardik Pandya creates new India record by taking a wicket in shortest format with his fresh captaincy stint

New Delhi: Hardik Pandya is leading the India team in the first T20I in the ongoing 2-match series in Dublin against Ireland. He has made a memorable start as a captain with a massive 7-wicket victory over Ireland. Putting a score of 109 runs in a 12-overs-per-side contest, India secured the score in just 9.2 overs to lead by 1-0 against Ireland.

Hardik Pandya couldn’t have wished for a better start as India’s T20I captain as he was good with both bat as well as the ball. He picked up a wicket and hit 24 runs off 12 deliveries as India defeated Ireland on Sunday in Malahide.

Hardik Pandya is the 8th player to lead India in men’s T20I cricket and achieved a new record as the all-rounder became the first T20I captain to pick up a wicket in the shortest format of the game. In the 2nd over of the match, he achieved the record by dismissing Ireland’s opener, Paul Stirling.

Hardik Pandya won the toss on Sunday and opted to field. He started his bowling in the 2nd over, taking the wicket of Stirling, whose faulty shot dropped the ball in the hands of Deepak Hooda, the mid-off fielder.

“Great to start the series with a win, fortunate we got a game. It is important for our team to start with a win,” Hardik said after India won the 1st T20I.

The collaborative efforts of Hardik and Hooda with the bat made India see the face of victory. The team had a great start from Ishan Kishan. Besides, Hardik and Hooda scored 64-runs together off 31 balls, defeating Ireland. Deepak Hooda secured 47 off 29 balls.