Hardik Pandya has cemented his status as India’s most valuable player (MVP) in the white-ball formats by achieving a significant career milestone. The star all-rounder became only the third Indian bowler to take 100 wickets in Men’s T20 Internationals (T20Is), joining the elite company of pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Pandya, 32, achieved the feat in the third T20I against South Africa at the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala on Sunday.
First Seamer to Achieve Exclusive Double
With the dismissal of South Africa’s Tristan Stubbs, Hardik Pandya also etched his name into world cricket records, becoming the first seam-bowling all-rounder globally to achieve the double of 1000-plus runs and 100-plus wickets in Men’s T20Is.
This achievement was previously held exclusively by three spin-bowling all-rounders: Shakib Al Hasan, Mohammad Nabi, and Sikandar Raza.
The Milestone Wicket
The 100th wicket came on the final delivery of the seventh over. Hardik bowled a back-of-a-length delivery that successfully shaped away from the right-handed batter, Tristan Stubbs. Stubbs played a false shot, managing only a thick outside edge that was safely pouched by wicketkeeper Jitesh Sharma behind the stumps.
The Elite Indian Club
Hardik Pandya returns to the T20I setup after sustaining an injury in the Asia Cup 2025 fixture against Sri Lanka, which sidelined him for three months. His return is a boost to the Indian side, now featuring three bowlers with 100 or more T20I scalps.
- Arshdeep Singh: India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is.
- Jasprit Bumrah: Surpassed the 100-wicket mark during the first game of this five-match series against the Proteas in Cuttack, with a current total of 101 scalps in the format.
- Hardik Pandya: Reaches the 100-wicket milestone.
Indian Bowlers Dominate Third T20I
The milestone was set against the backdrop of a dominant Indian bowling display. After India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bowl first, the decision was vindicated by the new-ball attack.
- Impactful Powerplay: Opening bowlers Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana dismantled the top order inside the powerplay. Harshit sent Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis packing, while Arshdeep dismissed Reeza Hendricks.
- Containment: The ferocious spell of bowling restricted the Proteas to just 25 runs inside the crucial powerplay overs.
It was noted during the toss that India was playing the third T20I without key players Jasprit Bumrah and Axar Patel. Axar was ruled out due to illness, while Bumrah traveled back due to personal reasons, with his participation in the final two matches yet to be confirmed.