WATCH, SMAT | Shankar makes early inroads into Chenai hearts by decimating arch-rival Hardik Pandya

ByDebayan Sinha,SportsCafe Editor

11/27/2024

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With the IPL auction concluded, attention now turns to the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, a platform for local players to display their skills. Tamil Nadu's Vijay Shankar grabbed the spotlight in the match against Baroda in Indore, smashing three sixes off Hardik Pandya in a single over.

‌Tamil Nadu enjoyed a strong outing with the bat despite an early loss. Openers Baba Indrajith and N Jagadeesan stitched a steady 44-run partnership in the first four overs before Ninad Rathva dismissed Indrajith on the final ball of the fourth over. However, Jagadeesan and Boopathi Kumar built on the foundation with a solid 70-run stand, taking Tamil Nadu to 114/2 in 10 overs. Jagadeesan’s dismissal soon after paved the way for Vijay Shankar to take the crease.

Alongside Shahrukh Khan, Vijay Shankar steadied the innings further and then lit up the match with a stunning display against Hardik Pandya in the 17th over. On the first ball, Pandya delivered a fuller ball around the middle stump, which Shankar judged perfectly. Reading the trajectory well, he launched the ball over deep mid-wicket for a towering six. The second ball followed a similar length, this time around off stump, and Shankar used his impeccable timing to send it sailing over long-off for another maximum. Three deliveries later, Pandya attempted a short ball aimed at the body, but Shankar capitalized on it, smashing it over long-off for his third six of the over. Shankar’s impressive performance comes at an ideal time, affirming his value after being picked by Chennai Super Kings for ₹1.2 crore in the IPL auction.

What a carnage!