India all-rounder Hardik Pandya was "gutted" to have missed the Asia Cup 2025 final against Pakistan due to a niggle, but he found solace in the team's title triumph, saying such tight chases will stand the side in good stead for the future.
Despite being reduced to 20/3 in the chase of 147, the Men in Blue defeated Pakistan by five wickets to clinch the continental crown for the record-extending ninth time.
The likes of Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson rose to the occasion after India’s top three fell cheaply. The middle-order pair added 57 runs for the fifth wicket steady the ship.
While Samson was dismissed for 24, Tilak (69* off 53) stayed till the end to take his side home with two deliveries to spare. Shivam Dube (33 off 22) also returned with a stunning cameo to put India on the brink of victory, and Rinku Singh (4*) hit the winning boundary.
"I was very gutted to miss the most important game, but the way the boys played was outstanding. They showed a lot of character," Pandya said in a video shared by the BCCI on social media.
"These games are going to help us in the long run where we will be tested, we will be put under pressure. The way we held our nerves was fantastic," he added.
Hardik Pandya emphasized that this Indian team is learning fast to adapt to all kinds of situations and conditions.
"T20 cricket is about that, come and dominate, play a fearless brand, and at the same point of time learn and adapt. I think this team is learning that," he said.
Pandya was effusive in praise of opener Abhishek Sharma for giving India a blazing start. "Outstanding effort by Abhishek from the top - the way he played and the fearlessness he showed, half of the game he won for us in the Power Play itself," he said.
On a personal front, Hardik’s Asia Cup campaign was modest as he claimed only four wickets from six games at an economy rate of 8.57.
However, the 31-year-old insisted he did not dwell on numbers and relish the challenge of sharing the new ball with Jasprit Bumrah.
"I have always enjoyed any role that I am given, and this time I was handed over the new ball, which I really enjoyed. Batting has always been there, whenever the team requires, as that's the way I like to bat," the all-rounder said.
"Bowling has been my No. 1 priority for a long time now. If Hardik Pandya bowls, then batting is never a problem. I treat myself as a pure fast bowler and I have taken a lot of pride in that. It's a lot of hard work, a lot of discipline, and it has been a constant which I really enjoy," he remarked.
Pandya went on to say that he has embraced bowling as a life choice rather than looking it as a mundane task.
"I tried making a big deal out of it, but as a person I am not like that because in my life I have learned that if you create something like 'it's a big thing I am doing', then on the 15th day, you will lose motivation.
"What has helped me is that I have made it a life's choice and it has been fantastic barring the unfortunate yesterday," he concluded.
