Hardik Pandya played a key role with both bat and ball in India’s nail-biting four-wicket victory over arch-rivals Pakistan at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday (October 23).
The all-rounder returned with the figures of 3 for 30 in his four as the Men in Blue restricted Pakistan to 159/8. He then produced a crucial knock of 37-ball 40 and was involved in a 113-run partnership with Virat Kohli (82* off 53 balls) to script India’s win on the last delivery.
After the game, Pandya shared his two cents on running out batters at the non-striker’s end for backing up, saying people should stop making a fuss about it as this mode of dismissal is within the laws of the game.
The run out at the non-striker’s end recently became a topic of debate after India's Deepti Sharma dismissed England's Charlie Dean in this fashion during an ODI last month.
"We need to stop making a fuss about this running out the non-striker. It is a rule, as simple as that. To hell with the spirit of the game, if it is there, it is there. Personally, I have no problem with it. If I am out of my crease, and someone runs me out, it is fine. It is my mistake," Hardik said on the latest episode of 'ICC Review'.
The 29-year-old also explained why he feels match-ups are "over-rated" in the shortest format of the game.
"Matchups don't work for me, see where I bat and the situation I get into, I do not get the option of matchups. You see matchups are more for the people who are batting in Top 3 or 4. For me, it is just the situation. There have been times, when I would like to take on a bowler, but if the situation does not demand it, I do not take that risk as it is going to harm my team," stated Hardik.
"I am never okay with that. Matchups, it is over-rated. I do not mind saying it, in T20 cricket, it is over-rated. In ODIs and Tests, it might work but in T20s, I do not believe it. Yes, I have not won a World Cup, but I have won other tournaments and I do not think I have ever worried about matchups," he elaborated.
In the end, Hardik Pandya talked about his ambitions and said: "Ever since I have made a comeback, the ambition is to the best version of myself and to get the best out of myself. I am running towards, not greatness I would say, but excellence. I am running towards excellence, if I want to achieve something, I think it would be excellence, not the performance. At the end of my career, if I can say to myself, you know what Hardik, you achieved excellence at one point of time, it would be great."
