Hardik Pandya invited the ire of fans (P.C.:BCCI)Hardik Pandya played a brilliant cameo of 31*(12) on his India comeback against the Proteas in the first T20I on Thursday, June 9, in Delhi. The 28-year-old showed exactly what he is capable of when he is in his prime and helped the Men in Blue cross the 200-run mark.What left many in disbelief, however, was when he denied the strike for the last ball to Dinesh Karthik, another player who was making his national team comeback. Hardik Pandya dug out a full delivery to deep mid-wicket on the second-last ball of the Indian innings, but refrained from running the single.Keeping the strike for the last ball, Pandya only managed to score two runs as India ended on 211/4. Dinesh Karthik too looked a bit stunned when he was sent back as he remained stranded on 1*(2).Although the 28-year-old played a fine cameo, him denying Karthik the strike left a sour taste in many fans' mouths. They took to Twitter to slam the all-rounder as Karthik had just won the 'Super Striker of the Season' award in IPL 2022 and was more than capable of finishing with a flourish.Here are some of the reactions:Rudransh Khurana@rudraaaanshDenying strike to DK? Conceding a dot? No matter your form, no matter the score, not good Hardik. Even AB de Villiers at 98 would take that single. #INDvsSA1Denying strike to DK? Conceding a dot? No matter your form, no matter the score, not good Hardik. Even AB de Villiers at 98 would take that single. #INDvsSAKaygee18@Kaygee1803In 2019 , Karthik denied single to Krunal In 2022 , Hardik denied single to Karthik202In 2019 , Karthik denied single to Krunal In 2022 , Hardik denied single to Karthik https://t.co/8fUQ22QelBKaygee18@Kaygee1803This is exactly the reason I don't like Hardik any more !543This is exactly the reason I don't like Hardik any more !Karan@karannpatelllIPL jeetne ke baad Hardik ahankaari ban gaya hai5IPL jeetne ke baad Hardik ahankaari ban gaya haiPrithvi@Puneite_Super striker of the season ka yeh apmaan ...28417Super striker of the season ka yeh apmaan ...Sritama (Ross Taylor’s version)@cricketpun_duhHARDIK PANDYA DENIES A SINGLE TO DINESH KARTHIK WTAF482HARDIK PANDYA DENIES A SINGLE TO DINESH KARTHIK WTAFGrizzy 🌠@BeechBeechMeinDisrespect to DK by Hardik Pandya#INDvsSA3Disrespect to DK by Hardik Pandya#INDvsSAarfan@Im__ArfanHardik was pissed at the reception dk got which hardik never got even after the IPL title so denied him a single & didn't let him face the last delivery42038Hardik was pissed at the reception dk got which hardik never got even after the IPL title so denied him a single & didn't let him face the last deliveryGurkirat Singh Gill@gurkiratsgillAnd as Hardik denies the single on the second last ball, he's met with boos from the Kotla crowd. twitter.com/CSKian716/stat…Manya@CSKian716"DK DK" chants even before he has walked in. This year's IPL has really been game-changing for him.21511"DK DK" chants even before he has walked in. This year's IPL has really been game-changing for him.And as Hardik denies the single on the second last ball, he's met with boos from the Kotla crowd. twitter.com/CSKian716/stat…Dweplea@dwepleaHardik taking revenge for his brother, no strike for you DK223Hardik taking revenge for his brother, no strike for you DKShubh Aggarwal@shubh_chintakOnce Dinesh Karthik denied the strike to Krunal Pandya. Tonight, Hardik Pandya has denied the strike to Dinesh Karthik #INDvSA1148Once Dinesh Karthik denied the strike to Krunal Pandya. Tonight, Hardik Pandya has denied the strike to Dinesh Karthik 😂 #INDvSAJohns.@CricCrazyJ0hnsBad attitude by Hardik pandya for not giving strike to Dinesh karthik, doesn't know how to respect senior.Lol hitting on flat decks of 55m shorter long on boundary and consider himself oversmart, dream for him to finish game like DineshKarthik did in Nidhas trophy.#INDvsSA29556Bad attitude by Hardik pandya for not giving strike to Dinesh karthik, doesn't know how to respect senior.Lol hitting on flat decks of 55m shorter long on boundary and consider himself oversmart, dream for him to finish game like DineshKarthik did in Nidhas trophy.#INDvsSAGaurav Sethi@BoredCricketNow that is some attitude, refusing DK a single on the penultimate ball.Well, that's Hardik Pandya for you.254Now that is some attitude, refusing DK a single on the penultimate ball.Well, that's Hardik Pandya for you.Balasubramaniyan@balasabari2015@WasimJaffer14 Just arrogant by Hardik to turn down the single with DK on the other end.6@WasimJaffer14 Just arrogant by Hardik to turn down the single with DK on the other end.尺ムGE父HItMaN@Anvithh27Hardik has denied a single…bruh do you think dk is a bowler?11Hardik has denied a single…bruh do you think dk is a bowler?iValue_Investor@ivalue_investorHardik Pandya is a good hitter, I get it. But denying single to DK at the other end is just ridiculous..hardik you might be in top form but that's way too much arrogance and cockiness.134Hardik Pandya is a good hitter, I get it. But denying single to DK at the other end is just ridiculous..hardik you might be in top form but that's way too much arrogance and cockiness.El Chopernos@El_ChopernosHardik not swiping right on DK is the highlight of the innings for me91Hardik not swiping right on DK is the highlight of the innings for meMahesh Bhat@maheshbhat2301Did I just see hardik denying DK strike???? That too off the last ball of the match... oh comeon .. arrogance.. that's arrogance.. I am sure DK is more than capable to face last ball than hardik. Stupid arrogance from Pandya ... #INDvSA72Did I just see hardik denying DK strike???? That too off the last ball of the match... oh comeon .. arrogance.. that's arrogance.. I am sure DK is more than capable to face last ball than hardik. Stupid arrogance from Pandya ... #INDvSAKartik🤏🏻🕶️🥹@zomatochadDid Hardik Pandya just deny a single to get DK on strike? Are you kidding me?#INDvsSA102Did Hardik Pandya just deny a single to get DK on strike? Are you kidding me?#INDvsSAJio Biden@JioBidenHardik Pandya denying strike to DK and scoring 2 runs off the last ball. Nonsense.101Hardik Pandya denying strike to DK and scoring 2 runs off the last ball. Nonsense.Vipul Ghatol 🇮🇳@Vipul_EspeaksRidiculous of Hardik Pandya to not take a single of the penultimate ball of the innings, the batsman at the other end was not No. 10 or No. 11, he was DK.#INDvsSA123Ridiculous of Hardik Pandya to not take a single of the penultimate ball of the innings, the batsman at the other end was not No. 10 or No. 11, he was DK.#INDvsSANikhil Balyan@nikhilbalyan61Dont like this at all from hardik🤷🏻‍♂️, not taken a single on second last ball, is DK a number 10/11? Dk has got highest strike rate in the recent ipl and hardik thinks that he is too big a player than dk🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️, wrong attitude to be playing with #INDvsSA #dineshkarthik #hardik9Dont like this at all from hardik🤷🏻‍♂️, not taken a single on second last ball, is DK a number 10/11? Dk has got highest strike rate in the recent ipl and hardik thinks that he is too big a player than dk🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️, wrong attitude to be playing with #INDvsSA #dineshkarthik #hardikMaddy@EvilRashfordHardik Pandya denying Dinesh Karthik the strike on the last ball as if DK is a tailender.... #bcci #INDvsSA #INDvSA #SAvsIND #TeamIndia #DK was literally like -818Hardik Pandya denying Dinesh Karthik the strike on the last ball as if DK is a tailender.... 😭😭😭😭#bcci #INDvsSA #INDvSA #SAvsIND #TeamIndia #DK was literally like - https://t.co/z18qYRwV67Ayodhya karthik@ayodhyakarthikThe whole innings from Hardik pandya got ruined by refusing the single and not giving strike to DK#INDvsSA #hardikpandya #dineshkarthik154The whole innings from Hardik pandya got ruined by refusing the single and not giving strike to DK#INDvsSA #hardikpandya #dineshkarthikHitman 🚷@Hitman_viewsEveryone loves Dinesh Karthik except Hardik Pandya.Hardik Denied a single on second last ball and disrespect DK.#INDvsSA3813Everyone loves Dinesh Karthik except Hardik Pandya.Hardik Denied a single on second last ball and disrespect DK.#INDvsSA https://t.co/irUU5vgB9IAlpha Mike ↗️@Alpha_V18Hardik denied strike to "super striker of the IPL season 2022" award winner Audacious!! #INDvsSA #dk6Hardik denied strike to "super striker of the IPL season 2022" award winner 😎😀Audacious!! #INDvsSA #dkidlebrain jeevi@idlebrainjeeviHardik Pandya denied single by not trusting DK for the last ball of the match. And took 2 runs for the last ball. Ego!#INDvSA22232Hardik Pandya denied single by not trusting DK for the last ball of the match. And took 2 runs for the last ball. Ego!#INDvSARaja Sekhar Yadav@CricketWithRajuWhy Hardik pandya refused to take single on 19.5th delivery ?? 🥲Dk might have hit a six or four on last ball. But Hardik changed everything.131Why Hardik pandya refused to take single on 19.5th delivery ?? 🥲Dk might have hit a six or four on last ball. But Hardik changed everything.Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya help India post 211/4India were put into bat by Temba Bavuma and the pitch had a bit of turn in it. The new-ball bowlers also got some lateral movement and initially it was tough for Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad to get going.However, the southpaw showed intent to attack and eventually found the middle of his bat more consistently. His 76 off 48 balls and some help from Shreyas Iyer (36) helped India set up a great platform for the death overs.Captain Rishabh Pant and vice-captain Hardik Pandya took the baton and continued the momentum to ensure India got to a daunting total. The Proteas would still believe that, given the smaller dimensions of the ground, they can get to the target with the power-packed batting line-up that they have got.