Sydney: He is not in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against Australia. However, fresh from his white-ball heroics, all-rounder Hardik Pandya said Sunday he wouldn’t mind staying back if the team management wants. Coming back from a back surgery, Hardik Pandya, is yet to start bowling on a regular basis. However, he made it up for that with the bat in the limited overs matches against Australia. Pandya has helped the visitors claim the T20 series after two big losses in the preceding ODI rubber.
Pandya was asked Sunday if he aspires to stay back for the four-match Test series starting December 17. “It’s a different ball game, I think I need to be, I mean I don’t mind but at the end of the day, the call is on the management. So, yeah, I don’t think I can say much about it,” Pandya said.
Pandya arrived in Australia having a played a key role for Mumbai Indians (MI) in their title-winning run in the IPL. He powered India to a six-wicket win Sunday. It helped India clinch the series.
The flamboyant all-rounder said he had worked on gaining mastery over ‘finishing games when it mattered the most’. He did so during the coronavirus-forced lockdown.
“During lockdown I wanted to focus on finishing games where it matters the most. It doesn’t matter whether I score or don’t score more runs. The important thing is to win the game for India,” Pandya said.
The all-rounder was not new to the kind of situation he faced at the SCG Sunday, having won some and lost a few in the past.
“I have been in these situations many times and I learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry. It has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident,” Pandya asserted.
“I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps,” said Pandya. He is in a ‘pretty good zone’ at the moment and playing according to the situation instead of getting too excited.
Pandya hit debutant pacer Daniel Sams for two sixes – one over long on and one over midwicket – to seal the game in India’s favour with two balls to spare.
“It was not about what they (Australia) are doing, it was about what I can do. It’s a matter of two big shots and today it came off. I always back myself. It’s the situation I have always played. Whatever the team requires I always try to do. It’s very simple. I like to look at scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target,” Pandya pointed out.
Pandya was named the ‘Man of the Match’ for his heroics with the bat. However, he thought the award should have gone to T Natarajan (2/20 in 4 overs) for the newcomer’s fine effort with the ball.
“Special mention to Natarajan as well. I thought he should be the ‘Man of the Match’. The bowlers struggled here but he had a really good game,” Pandya said.
“He gave us a target about 10 or 15 runs lower than what it would have been. He keeps it simple and I prefer people who don’t complicate things,” asserted Pandya.
Pandya has often spoken about his love for the 1998-90s West Indian style of cricket. He picked his Mumbai Indians teammate Kieron Pollard as his inspiration.
“I don’t think I have to think much about that, it’s going to be Polly (Pollard). He has done it many, many times for his franchises, Mumbai Indians particularly. For me the inspiration has always been him and I have been genuinely lucky seeing few of his knocks in the past,” Pandya signed off.
