After guiding India to a series-clinching 6-wicket win over Australia in the second T20I, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he had worked on how to finish games during the Coronavirus-induced lockdown.
Chasing 195 to win, Pandya slammed 42 off 22 balls and 14 in the final over to take the visitors over the line with two balls to spare at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
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“During lockdown, I wanted to focus on finishing games where it matters the most. It doesn’t matter whether I score or don’t score more runs,” he said at the post-match press conference.
Hardik was not new to the kind of situation he faced on Sunday (December 6), having won some and lost a few in the past.
“I have been in these situations many times and I learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry, it has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident.
“I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps.”
In the final over, Pandya hit debutant pacer Daniel Sams for two sixes to seal the deal for India.
“It was not about what they are doing, it was about what I can do. It’s a matter of two big shots and today it came off. I always back myself. It’s the situation I have always played. Whatever the team requires I always try to do.
“It’s very simple. I like to look at scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target.”
Hardik Pandya said he had always focused more on the process rather than the eventual outcome.
“In T20s, you actually have more time than you think. If we need 70-80 odd in 30 balls, I don’t look at the whole thing and I break it down to 12 balls and focus more on the process than the end result.”
Pandya earned the Player-of-the-Match award for his heroics with the bat but he felt left-arm pacer T Natarajan (2/20 in 4 overs) deserved the honour for his fine effort with the ball.
“Special mention to Natarajan as well. I thought he should be the Man of the Match, because the bowlers struggled here and he had a really good game.
“He gave us a target about 10 or 15 runs lower than what it would have been. He keeps it simple and I prefer people who don’t complicate things,” he remarked.
(With PTI inputs)
