India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has often spoken about the legendary MS Dhoni’s influence on him. While leading the Indian T20I side, Hardik looks to emulate the role of Dhoni by taking the game deep and absorbing the pressure.
After India’s T20I series win over New Zealand, Pandya revealed how his game has evolved over the years and now he is ready to sacrifice his strike-rate for the team’s cause.
“I don’t mind playing the role that, somewhere down the line, Mahi used to play. At that time, I was young and hitting all around the park. But since he’s gone, all of a sudden, that responsibility is onto me. I don’t mind that. We are getting the results. It’s okay if I have to play a little slow,” said Pandya said in the post-match press conference.
“I’ve always enjoyed hitting sixes. But that’s life; I’ve to evolve. I’ve believed in partnerships and want to give my batting partner and team some assurance and calmness that I’m there. I’ve played more games than any of these guys; I’ve learned how to accept and swallow pressure and make sure everything is calm,” he added.
For his 66 runs and five wickets in three T20Is against New Zealand, Hardik was adjudged Player-of-the-Series. The all-rounder scored 30 off 17 balls and picked a four-wicket haul in the series-deciding third T20I.
“I had to bowl with the new ball [in T20Is] because Arshdeep Singh… I don’t want any new guy to come and have that difficult role of [bowling first up with the new ball] because if they’re put under pressure, then we’re chasing the game,” Hardik said. “So, I’ve always been [like] leading from the front and I’ve been working on my new-ball skills, which is helping me,” he explained.
“I also want to take the new ball role because I want everyone to take that difficult role. If they’re under pressure, then we are chasing the game. I want to lead the front. I’ve been working on my new ball skills,” he further remarked.
Coming to the third T20I, the Men in Blue rode on opener Shubman Gill’s whirlwind 126 not out off 63 balls to pile up a gigantic 234/4 in 20 overs after opting to bat first.
Defending the massive total, Indian bowlers ran through the Kiwi batting line-up, bundling out the visitors for a paltry 66 in 12.1 overs.
While Hardik returned with his career-best T20I figures of 4 for 16 in his four overs, the pace troika of Umran Malik (2-9), Arshdeep Singh (2-16), and Shivam Mavi (2-12) picked two scalps each as India registered their biggest ever win in T20Is in terms of margin of runs.
(The Indian Express Inputs)
