Hardik Pandya on Thursday walked off the field after bowling three deliveries off his third over against the Rajasthan Royals at the DY Patil Stadium, Navi Mumbai, raising concerns about his fitness. However, after the match, the Gujarat Titans skipper cleared the air saying that “It was just cramps, nothing else.”

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Pandya put up an all-round show against Sanju Samson and company, helping his side win by 37 runs. The Titans now sit on the top rung of the IPL 2022 points table. 

Batting first, Hardik Pandya was unbeaten on 87 runs off 52 balls. He smashed eight boundaries and four maximums. The 28-year-old took one wicket for 18 runs and affected a run out in the second innings. 

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On the second ball of the 18th over, Pandya foxed Jimmy Neesham with a slower delivery. The Kiwi all-rounder, trying to slog, mistimed only to see the Gujarat Titans captain take the catch. After bowling the next ball, Hardik Pandya had to leave the field. 

“A lot of hard work for me tonight. It was just cramps, nothing serious,” he said at the post match presentation. 

Pandya has now hit two fifties in a row. He has been batting at No 4, much higher than where he used to. 

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“I am not used to batting this long. It gives me a lot of time. I can calculate and take risk. The last game it did not come off but today I made sure I did. I have been in this situation where I have taken the role of scoring 12-ball 30. It is difficult but now at four I can control the game,” Pandya further said. 

“Captaincy is fun and it allows me to take responsibility and be the flag-bearer. The group carries one another. My motto was I wanted everyone to be happy,” he added.