5 instances when Hardik Pandya hit three consecutive six in international cricket

Hardik Pandya, a flamboyant all-rounder with an aggressive batting style, has made a mark for himself in international cricket. He has a keen penchant towards hitting big sixes, especially, against spin bowlers. He loves to hit them out of the park.

Hardik has hit 65 sixes so far in his international career. He has shown an impeccable judgment in picking the ball to be hit. On his day, the hard-hitter can destroy any bowler in the world. Smashing a spinner for three consecutive sixes has become a feature of his batting.

In the fifth match of the ODI series against New Zealand, Hardik smashed leg-spinner Todd Astle for three consecutive sixes in the 47th over of the innings.

It was the fifth instance when Pandya has smashed three successive sixes against a spinner in international cricket. In chronological order, let us have a look at all of them.

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#5 India vs Pakistan, ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Group match

Hardik smashed Imad Wasim in the last over of the innings

It was the first time when Hardik displayed the unique characteristic. Coming in to bat in the second last over of the innings, he faced just one ball before he wreaked havoc on Imad Wasim who was bowling the final over of the Indian innings.

Hardik smashed three sixes on the first three balls of the last over and helped India finish their innings on a high. He hammered the first ball, pitched on off-stump, over long-off for a gigantic six. The second ball was a bit wider, but Hardik, already anticipating it, launched the ball over long-off for a flat six before making it a hat-trick as the third ball sailed over mid-wicket.

In the second innings of the match, Hardik chipped in with two wickets. India defeated Pakistan by 124 runs to start the Champions Trophy with a bang.

#4 India vs Pakistan, ICC Champions Trophy 2017 Final

In all, Hardik smashed four sixes against Shadab and two sixes against Fakhar Zaman

In a complete dismal show otherwise, Hardik Pandya's belligerent batting was the highlight for India. Coming in to bat with India reeling on 54/5, he scored a scintillating 76 off 43 balls with the help of four fours and six humongous sixes. In the 23rd over of the innings, the right-hander tore apart Shadab Khan with a hat-trick of sixes to bring up his fifty in just 32 balls.

The match was emphatically going into the favour of Pakistan before Hardik started an unbelievable exhibition of six hitting. He dispatched Shadab over cow corner before a mammoth hit towards mid-wicket, and then made it a hat-trick with a mighty six straight down the ground. He was all over the Pakistani spinners and rained six sixes against them.

However, his effort was not enough and India went on to lose the all-important final by 180 runs.

#3 India vs Sri Lanka, Test series 2017

Hardik has the ability to hit sixes in every direction of the field

It was the debut Test series for Hardik Pandya. In the third Test at Kandy, he came in to bat with India well placed at 322/6 in their first innings. By the time Hardik reached to his fifty, India had lost 9 wickets. From there on, he started a massacre and reached his maiden Test century in quick time.

The special part of this hitting was a 26-run over against Milinda Pushpakumara that consisted of three back-to-back sixes. The first two balls of this over were dispatched for fours by Pandya.

Hardik got out after scoring 108 runs off 96 balls. His last 58 runs came off just 35 balls. He added 66 runs with Umesh Yadav for the last wicket, in which the latter's contribution was only three runs. India went on to win this Test by an innings and 171 runs.

#2 India vs Australia, ODI series 2017

The first of the three hit the roof of the stadium

This instance occurred in the five-match ODI series played between India and Australia in 2017. In the first game at Chennai, Hardik came in to bat with India struggling at 87/5. He forged a match-winning partnership of 118 runs with MS Dhoni.

In the course of this partnership, Hardik pounced on Adam Zampa, sending the ball out of the ground three times in a row. It was 37th over of the innings and India was looking for a surge in the run-rate.

The first one was hit straight by Pandya that went to hit the roof and the second one sailed over long-on. The third one traveled the same direction as the second one did. He scored 83 runs off 66 balls with the help of five sixes and as many fours.

Hardik did not stop here and picked up two wickets in the Australian innings. India won the match by 26 runs by D/L method.

#1 India vs New Zealand, ODI series 2019

Staying in the crease and hitting the spinner out of the park has become Hardik trademark

The fifth and latest instance of Hardik's six-hitting show occurred during the five-match ODI series played between India and New Zealand. In the last match of the series, India were batting first after winning the toss at Wellington.

On a tricky surface, the Indian batsmen could not find themselves at ease as they slumped to 18/4 before Vijay Shankar and Ambati Rayudu revamped the innings.

Coming in to bat in the 44th over of the innings, Hardik took some time before unleashing his repertoire. In the 47th over of the innings, he had leg-spinner Todd Astle bowling at him. It was the ideal chance for Hardik to flex his muscles and he did the same.

Astle bowled a short one and Pandya dispatched it over mid-wicket. The next ball was outside the off stump which the right-hander managed to clear the extra cover fence. Pandya then hammered a full ball, on middle stump, over mid-wicket for another huge six.