When the cameras zoomed onto his face, Hardik Pandya’s jaws snapped the gum with a theatrical flourish. The stroke he had executed exemplified his nonchalant coolness – a ramp off a pacer over the wicketkeeper’s head, without even looking at the ball or its eventual destination.
No-look shots have a mystical fondness in cricket, like the back-heel in football or the ‘tweener’ in tennis. A no-look ramp is even more electrifying. When a batsman has played the shot from right under the eye-line, with the ball almost kissing the chest, their eyes would reflexively travel with the ball, till it reaches its eventual destination.
But Hardik rebelled against human nature and reflexes. He watched the ball until it climbed onto his torso. He arched his upper body to manufacture space for his hands to help the ball beyond the ‘keeper’s reach, like he was playfully slapping a friend at a reunion.