India, Dec. 12 -- Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan did not hold back in his assessment of Hardik Pandya's knock in the second T20I against South Africa in Mullanpur. The Indian skipper endured a forgettable outing, managing just 20 off 23 balls during a steep chase, never quite finding the rhythm needed to keep India in the hunt. Known for his effortless power-hitting and ability to shift gears instantly, Hardik walked in at a tense moment when India required a momentum surge. Instead, he struggled to accelerate, managing only a single six and failing to find the boundary otherwise-an uncharacteristically subdued performance that drew sharp scrutiny.

Hardik had produced a sensational fifty in the first T20I in Cuttack, a knock that ...