Hardik Pandya is considered one of the most impactful players in Team India. His ability to strike the ball and bowl useful medium-pace provides the team with much-needed balance.
Hardik said that he decided to become a fast-bowling all-rounder at the age of 19. He added that him becoming an all-rounder was sheer luck and narrated how he transitioned from a hard-hitting batsman to an all-rounder.
“I became an all-rounder by chance. It was pure luck. The transition took place when I was 19. Before I played for India, I had bowled for probably one year only,” Hardik said in a conversation with veteran sports journalist Ayaz Memon on Day 1 of Hindustan Times' virtual HT NxT.
Hardik, who made headlines in the Indian Premier League with match-winning performances for the Mumbai Indians, said that he borrowed fast bowler’s shoes from his teammates and bowled in the nets only to give the pacers of the team rest in his U19 days.
“When I started bowling, I was helping out my U19 bowlers because they were tired by bowling so much. I was a batsman who used to bat at No.3. I used to borrow their shoes also because I didn’t have fast-bowling shoes,” he said.
The Baroda player said that he bowled in a U19 match because the pitch was covered with grass and there were no pacers available his team and ended up with five wickets in the match.
“Sharath Kumar sir was watching our U19 practice from some 200 meters away. The next day he came to watch our local game, where I played for Kiran More Academy. It was a green top and no fast bowler was available.
I borrowed someone’s shoes and got a five-for in that game. That’s why I say it’s luck by chance. Sharath sir then took me a month sir in the Ranji Trophy squad. Before that, I didn’t bowl,” he added.
Hardik has not bowled a lot in recent times due to major back surgery. However, he has been named as the only fast-bowling all-rounder in India's T20 World Cup 2021 team that was selected on Wednesday and will be fit to contribute a few overs in the tournament.
“I don’t look at the result at the end of the day, for me, it’s more about the process. As an all-rounder, I have always focused on contributing to all departments. I needed to work on my bowling a lot.
When I came in, I didn’t have much idea about what balls to bowl, what variations to have in the armory. I started from the basics. I worked on my accuracy, bowled on a good length, and with time I was able to learn the variations as well,” Hardik said.
Hardik Pandya has played 11 Tests, 63 ODIs, and 49 T20Is for India and has given a few memorable performances in all three departments.
(With HT inputs)
