Team India’s stand-in captain, Hardik Pandya, said that the home side didn't need to sledge Sri Lankans in the upcoming three-match T20I series, starting on Tuesday (January 3) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and that the body language should be enough for them.
The skipper further said that the Men in Blue are not looking to settle scores but promised to make Sri Lankans feel that they are playing in India. Pandya also stated that the Indian players will not sled the Islanders, but will instead intimidate them through their body language.
Hardik Pandya said at the pre-match press conference: “We’re not looking to ‘settle’ anything. We want to play good cricket. Yes, we will make them feel like we’re in India, don’t worry about that.”
The stand-in skipper continued, “I assure and promise you they will feel that they’re playing an international team, that too India in India. We’re going to be clear. We don’t need to go and sledge them. Our body language is enough for them to feel a little intimidated.”
Defending Team India’s approach in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup 2022, Pandya said: “You see, before the World Cup, I don’t think we did anything wrong. Our template, approach, and everything was the same. Yes, in the World Cup, things didn’t go how we wanted. And I think our approach was not what it was before the World Cup.”
He concluded, “What we have noticed and told the boys is that just go out there and express (yourself), which they will do. And it’s up to us how we back them. What we have said is that we’re going to back you to the core. All the players have that support from my side that I’m going to back them to the core.”
(With News18 Inputs)
