India put up a dominant performance with the ball after electing to field first against Pakistan at the Narendra Modi Stadium today. While Pakistan started well – at one stage, they were 155-2 from 29.4 overs – a massive collapse in the second half of their innings meant that they were bowled out for 191, losing their last eight wickets for just 36 runs.

Each Indian bowler chipped in with the ball. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, and Ravindra Jadeja, all five shared two wickets apiece. Shardul Thakur was the only bowler who didn’t get a wicket, although he bowled only two overs.

Among the ten Pakistan wickets that fell, the second one, that of Imam, was particularly interesting given what happened before and after the dismissal.

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On the second ball of the 13th over, Pandya was cut for four by Imam through point. As he got ready to bowl the next ball, Pandya was seen animatedly talking to the ball in his hand, almost as if casting a spell on it. While it’s not clear what he said, whatever it was, seemed to work as he got Imam caught behind the very next delivery.

Pandya’s antics were not done yet. After dismissing Imam, Pandya gave him a send-off, waving him good bye and mouthing what seemed like “Thank you so much”.

In the end, Pandya finished with figures of 2-34. The other batter he dismissed was Mohammad Nawaz.

Watch Hardik Pandya mysteriously talk into the ball before taking Imam-ul-Haq’s wicket:

Hardik Pandya What Did You Talk With Ball? Before wicket pic.twitter.com/ifaVK6SnEi

— Our Mahesh (@our_mahesh) October 14, 2023