He’s not on the Indian test team for the upcoming series against Australia, but fresh off his heroic white balls, all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Sunday that he wouldn’t mind being left behind if the team’s leadership wants to.
Returning from back surgery, Pandya, who has yet to start bowling regularly, shone with the bat in limited overs matches against Australia, helping the visitors claim the T20 series after two greats. defeats in the previous ODI.
When asked if he aspires to fall behind for the four-game test series starting on December 17, Pandya said: “It’s a different game, I think I should be, I mean, I don’t care, but at the end of the day The call is with management. So yeah, I don’t think I can say much about it. ”
Pandya came to Australia having played a key role for the Mumbai Indians in their race for victory in the Indian Premier League. On Sunday, he propelled India to a six-field victory on 42-of-22 balls, helping the team score 25 of 12 balls and 14 in the final for a series victory in the second and penultimate T20 International against Australia here. .
The flamboyant off-roader said he had worked to master “finishing games when it mattered most” during the coronavirus lockdown.
“During the lockout, I wanted to focus on finishing the games where it mattered most. It doesn’t matter if I score or not score more runs, ”Pandya said at the post-game press conference.
The off-roader wasn’t new to the kind of situation it faced at SCG on Sunday, having won and lost a few in the past.
“I have been in these situations many times and learned from my mistakes in the past. My game always revolves around the confidence that I have, it has that fine line that I lean on and I don’t get too confident. I always remember all those moments when we chase great totals and that helps, “said the man who is a pretty good area” at this point and playing according to the situation instead of getting too excited.
Pandya hit rookie pacemaker Daniel Sams for two sixes, one longer and one midwicket, to seal the game in India’s favor with two balls to spare.
“It wasn’t about what they were doing, it was about what I can do. It is a matter of two big shots and today it came out. I always support myself. It is the situation that I have always played. Whatever the team requires, I always try. It’s very simple. I like to look at the scoreboard and play to know which players to target, ”Pandya said.
He said that he had always focused more on the process than the end result.
“In the T20s, you actually have more time than you think. If we need 70-80 odd numbers in 30 balls, I don’t look at everything and divide it into 12 balls and focus more on the process than the final result. ”
Pandya was named Man of the Match for his bat heroics, but thought the award should have gone to T Natarajan (2/20 in 4 overs) for the good effort of the newcomer with the ball.
“Special mention for Natarajan too. I thought he should be the Man of the Match, because the bowlers fought here and he played a very good game. He gave us a target of 10 or 15 runs below what it would have been. He keeps it simple and I prefer people who don’t complicate things, ”Pandya said.
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