New Delhi: India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya had been given a break for the West Indies series after the World Cup. However, Hardik Pandya did not waste the time. Instead he trained twice a day in August and also fly down to Baroda to work on his skills as it was raining in Mumbai.
Hardik Pandya spoke on the challenges ahead with the series against the Proteas, working on his fitness, managing his workload as an all-rounder, being the X-factor in this Indian team and his love for tattoos.
“It was important for me (the break) as the IPL was long and then the World Cup followed and I had a good run in both the tournaments. So, I was looking to give some rest to my body. Precaution is better than cure and that is when the call was taken by the team management that I come back fully fit for the South Africa series,” Pandya told this agency.
“Neither the team management nor I wish that I get injured. The rest has helped me a lot and my fitness has gone to the next level. I started doing pilates and that has helped me a lot. This isn’t something very usual for cricketers. It was important that I try something new to improve my back. Hence this break was important for me and my game,” explained the all-rounder.
While a fresh series starts with South Africa, losing in the semifinals of the World does bother Pandya. But then he has put it behind him and looking for the T20 World Cup next year.
“It was difficult and we all felt the same pain, but life moves on. I would have been more upset if we as a team hadn’t done justice to our performance. I think we played outstandingly except for that 30 minutes against New Zealand. We have kind of moved on and we want to focus on the next World Cup (WT20) and win that,” Pandya asserted.
Pandya said he doesn’t believe in specific goals for a particular series. “I always try to do something special for the team,” he informed.
Being an all-rounder isn’t easy and Pandya said that managing the workload becomes all the more important as one has to focus equally on batting and bowling.
“It is a little difficult because the thing I do as a batsman is then replicated as a bowler. So, I bowl the same amount of deliveries that a bowler bowls and then I bat for as long as a regular batsman. So it is important for me to be super fit and manage my workload at all times,” Pandya said.
But then, coach Ravi Shastri and skipper Virat Kohli call him the X-factor in this team of youngsters. How does that feel?
“When someone like your captain and coach backs you, the confidence increases and you look to express yourself and that brings out the best in you. I have always made sure that I understand the situation and then enjoy myself. Enjoying the game decreases the pressure. I have confidence in myself so there is no question of pressure,” Pandya asserted. “The captain and coach expect me to do well and that gives me confidence.”
A conversation with one of the world’s best all-rounder is incomplete without discussing his tattoos and Pandya says they all have a message.
“I like tattoos and for me all of them mean something. I don’t get a tattoo just because I have to. Whenever I have got some message for myself, I get a tattoo. It always has a message or explanation behind it,” the all-rounder signed off.
IANS