All-rounder Hardik Pandya has opened up about being given the Indian captaincy for the upcoming Ireland tour. He said that no one would’ve thought about this 7 months back when he was struggling to even find a place in the side.
Pandya’s name has been hogging over the headlines. His journey over the past few months has been a roller-coaster ride. He found himself in and out of the Indian team due to fitness issues and after T20 World Cup 2021, he didn’t feature in India’s squad for a long time.
After regaining his full fitness, he made a comeback through IPL 2022. The all-rounder led Gujarat Titans (GT) to the title victory in their first season. He led from the front and scored 487 runs with the bat and also took 8 wickets in the tournament.
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His performance in the IPL 15 saw him back in the Indian squad for the ongoing T20I series against South Africa and was named vice-captain for the team. He was given the leadership role after Rishabh Pant took over the captaincy in the absence of KL Rahul, who was ruled out due to injury.
Pandya’s return to the team can be treated as a comeback for ages. Not only he delivered with the bat, he was even rewarded with the India captaincy for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland. While the senior players will prepare for the Test match against England, the all-rounder will lead a relatively young side.
Speaking to Star Sports, Hardik Pandya said that it’s an honour for him to lead India. He said that no one would’ve thought that he will captain the team 7 months back when he was struggling to find a place in the side.
“I knew at the start of the series. Obviously, it's always a honour to lead your country. Who would have thought 7 months back. Life changes. It can change a lot if you have the right mind and keep working hard,” Hardik Pandya said.
Pandya admitted making changes to his lifestyle to fulfill his wish to return to the "old version" of himself in terms of fitness and all-round abilities. He called it the biggest U-turn of his life and the IPL campaign and India vice-captaincy its "byproducts".
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“When I took a break from cricket, I decided that whenever I return, I will come back with my best version. The byproduct that came with it; we became champions (in IPL), I got the vice-captaincy of the Indian team, it is all a byproduct of the process that I follow.
“The things that happened earlier.. I decided that I wanted to return to the old version of myself; one who was fit, who batted, who bowled, who fielded. When I look back at how I was six months ago, and how I am six months later.. my life can't take a bigger U-turn than this,” he said.
Pandya said that he loves taking responsibility as it allows him to make right decisions and manage things. He’s confident in delivering and his goal is to take responsibilities, which will make him a better cricketer.
“I want responsibility. It allows me to make the right decision, to manage things. I know I will make the right decisions because I own them. I know what my role is in the team.
“That's the reason I'm fit, physically and mentally. It is good knowing that you will be a key member. I know whenever the opportunity comes, I will deliver. My goal is to take responsibilities because they eventually make you a better cricketer,” he said.
(Star Sports inputs)
