On the back of his IPL 2022 exploits, Hardik Pandya recently returned to action for India in the home T20I series against South Africa and he is now set to lead the national team in the two-T20I series against Ireland, beginning June 26.
During the recently held IPL season, Pandya captained Gujarat Titans (GT) to the title victory in their maiden appearance. He led the side from the front, scoring 487 runs and claiming 8 wickets in the tournament.
Speaking on the eve of the first T20I against Ireland, Hardik said responsibility brings out the best in him on a cricket field.
"Earlier also, I liked taking up responsibility and now also it is the same but it is a bit more responsibility now. I always believed that I did better when I took responsibility," Hardik said during a virtual press conference on Saturday (June 25).
"If I can take ownership of my own things and take my own decisions, they tend to be strong. Cricket is such a game, staying strong during situations is very important.
"Always responsibility was given to me and I took it and that's why I became better. While captaining I will see how I can give the same responsibility to every player and give them the ability to fight with situations," he added.
Hardik Pandya has learnt a lot about leadership by playing under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, but he said every captain has their own style.
"Obviously I have taken a lot of things from them (Dhoni and Kohli) but at the same time I also want to be myself, obviously my understanding of the game is different but I have taken a lot of good vibes from them.
"I am not instinctive but I see more situation than go on my gut. At what point of time, what decision the team requires, I focus on that rather than going on my gut. Gut always goes 50-50," he said.
"I have got an opportunity to lead India. It's in itself a big thing. I don't play the sport to show anyone anything, if I am good enough. I was always the same."
With senior players like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant among others not featuring in the series due to their commitments with the Test team, the selectors picked multiple youngsters in the T20I squad for Ireland tour.
According to Hardik, Team India’s bench strength shows that the game is in good health in the country.
"If such a situation arises that we have to send two teams, we are very lucky that we have the bench strength where we can allow the players to go and express and a lot of people will get opportunities.
"There are so much talent in India that people don't get opportunities. Playing for India is always a dream and for them to achieve that dream will be really fantastic," he said.
"The way talent has come up and the character the players have shown and the way we played, it indicates India's bench strength. There are plenty of options right now in Indian team. Four people are still fighting for places in the team. They are knocking the doors, so it can be better than that."
The stand-in India skipper also made it clear that they won’t take Ireland lightly.
"It's a challenge mentally, it is easier to say that we are playing against Ireland but playing for India is the biggest pride. If we want to win the World Cup, every match from here is important for us to reach the World Cup final. The first thing I said to all is that it doesn't matter whom we are playing, we need to focus on our own things," he remarked.
"We keep the same intensity we generally keep even if we are playing the World Cup or a big series. Again it comes down to mental strength, how better you can get because it's not easy in two matches getting yourself on but at the same time we are playing for India and we have to be on our A game which we will.
"The discussion between me and the coach is simple -- approach the game as you do in any other game for India."
(With PTI inputs)
