Anil Kumble ordered Pandya

London, June 06: We all knew that Hardik Pandya has been smashed the three sixes in a row in the arch-rivalry match against the Pakistan in ICC Champions Trophy here on Sunday.

But these came in just six deliveries and contained three sixes hit in the last over. Needless to say, his cameo was the final burst of acceleration which played a huge role in dampening Pakistan's chasing resolve.

But the Baroda all-rounder didn't even know that he was going to come in before MS Dhoni. In an interview with the ICC, Pandya revealed that coach Anil Kumble sprang a surprise on him and sent him ahead of the former India skipper.

Pandya said that "Honestly I won't lie, the pressure was there. But still, at the back of my mind, I was thinking of it as a normal game because I didn't want to take the unnecessary pressure. In any game, I wouldn't want to take unnecessary pressure on myself because that makes you do something that you are not supposed to do."