Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, India all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Saturday (April 25) supported the idea of playing IPL behind closed doors whenever the on-field play is resumable.

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Last week, the BCCI suspended the 13th edition of IPL until further notice after Indian government extended the Coronavirus lockdown till May 3. The IPL 2020 was scheduled to kickstart on March 29 but it was initially postponed until April 15 due to the lockdown before the final call came from the Indian cricket board.

"It will be different. We are used to playing with the crowd as the feel of competition comes with the crowd,” Hardik said during an Instagram chat with Dinesh Karthik.

"I've played in the Ranji Trophy without crowds, and it feels different. To be honest, if that (IPL behind closed doors) happens, then it will be a smarter option. At least people will be entertained at home," he added.

Hardik had his brother Krunal for company during the chat session and the latter also echoed the words of his younger sibling on IPL.

On a lighter note, Karthik brought up the controversial 'Koffee with Karan' episode, which led to Hardik and his teammate KL Rahul facing a brief ban from cricket last year.

Pandya and Rahul appeared on the famous TV show and created controversy by making "misogynistic" and "sexist" comments. After receiving flak from various quarters, the duo was suspended pending an inquiry by BCCI and called back from the tour Down Under.

Speaking on this topic, Hardik jokingly said: "I don't drink coffee, I drink green tea instead. I drank coffee only once and proved to be too expensive for me. I can bet that Starbucks would not have such an expensive coffee. Since then I stay away from coffee."

(With PTI inputs)