Herschelle Gibbs criticizes Hardik Pandya: India won their second game against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday. The Men in Blue registered a resounding 93-run win against the African country. Hardik Pandya played a key role in India’s big win last night as his all-round performance first helped the team post a good score and then also prevented them from scoring.
Hardik Pandya scored 52 runs in 28 balls in the game and took two wickets for just 21 runs in his four over spell. India, who made a bright start and scored 104 runs in just seven overs, found themselves struggling on a slow wicket after Namibia’s spinners made changes in the middle overs. From 104/2, India were 124/4 in 12 overs.
Hardik Pandya showed his strength against Namibia
The run pace slowed down, however, as Hardik Pandya displayed his experience and hit four sixes and as many fours in his stormy innings after facing a few balls. He also hit the longest six of the 2026 T20 World Cup against Bernard Scholtz, which went 109 metres. Pandya’s all-round performance earned him the title of Player of the Match.
Speaking at the post-match presentation after receiving the Man of the Match award, the explosive all-rounder suggested that the pitches should be flat. As India have played on slow wickets in their first two matches in Mumbai and Delhi, the ball has held up and turned a bit.
Herschelle Gibbs took a funny dig at Hardik Pandya
Responding to their demand for flat wickets, former South Africa opener Herschelle Gibbs has shared his insights while taking a witty dig at India’s star all-rounder. “You see more skill when the pitches aren’t flat,” he said on X (formerly Twitter). While giving the statement he also used winking emoji.
Here is the tweet
You see more skill when pitches aren’t flat https://t.co/ngRFJ3iudy
– Hershel Gibbs (@hershybru) 13 February 2026
Gibbs was also chatting with a fan when the fan said, “Sir, he is a very dangerous T20 batsman.” He replied, “Dangerous batsmen don’t complain about pitches, friend.” In that comment, another fan said, “Like Hershel, never complained. He said, “Sleep.”
Will India face South Africa in the knockout?
India and South Africa were the finalists of the previous edition of the T20 World Cup. The Men in Blue defeated the Proteas by 7 runs to win their second T20 title in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup in Barbados. The Men in Blue currently top the table with four points. Their next match will be against Pakistan on Sunday.
South Africa will want to work on their bowling after falling behind in the double super over game against Afghanistan. They almost failed to defend a good score of 188 runs. In their next match, they will face New Zealand, who are in sensational form after their 10-wicket win against UAE.
If both India and South Africa qualify for the Super 8 stages then they will face each other as they will be placed in the same group. Since it is predetermined by the ranking of the teams in the shortest format.
Also read: Hardik Pandya angry at BCCI and pitch curator amid T20 World Cup
