Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has recalled his debut for Team India during the Australia tour in 2016 and also revealed the words of then skipper MS Dhoni after watching his performances during his debut series.
Hardik Pandya made his India T20I debut in Adelaide in 2016. However, he conceded 21 runs in his first over, but Dhoni showed faith in him, and the all-rounder repaid it by finishing with 2/37 from three overs against Australia.
However, Pandya picked up just three wickets in his debut series, but still managed to impress Dhoni, who later assured him a spot in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup 2016.
Hardik told SGTV podcast: “When I joined the Indian team, I saw guys whom I had seen growing up – Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra. Even before I played for India, they were the stars. For me, when I went there it was a big thing.”
He continued, “So obviously the kind of debut I had – I think I am the first cricketer who had gone for 21 runs in his first over – I genuinely felt that ok, this might be my last over. But I was very blessed and lucky to play under Mahi Bhai who showed a lot of trust in us which has helped us reach where we did.”
Pandya signed off by saying, “Just after the third game of my international career, Mahi Bhai told me you will be in the World Cup team. So for me, to play World Cup or to get to know that in the third game I just got to know about this. I did not even bat in that game but he assured me that you have expressed yourself. Yeah, it was just a dream come true.”
