Having mastered the white ball in the ongoing tour of Australia, Hardik Pandya doesn’t mind taking up the red-ball challenge next.
After playing the lead role in India’s win on Sunday, Hardik, at the post-match media conference, was asked if he would like to stay back in Australia as a specialist batsman for the Test series. He replied: “It (Test series)’s a different ball game, I feel. But I don’t mind staying back,” Hardik said. “Ultimately, it’s the team management’s call and I don’t think I can say much about it.”
Basically an all-rounder, Hardik currently is playing mostly as a specialist batsman as he is still not entirely ready with his remodelled bowling action post a back surgery last year. And as a batsman, precisely a finisher, he has reinvented himself since the IPL that preceded this tour.
“I batted well in the IPL too. During the lockdown, my focus was on what I needed to do to finish games for my team. I talked with (brother) Krunal (Pandya) about it. I really don’t mind how many runs I score. What’s more important is that if it’s my time to do it and if I can help the team win, that’s the happiest time for me,” Hardik emphasised.
Acknowledging Kieron Pollard’s style of batting as his “inspiration”, Hardik said: “To be honest, it doesn’t really matter where I bat. I’ve always played and developed my game so that I can play according to the situation. So if needed, I’m ready to bat at No.4 and if I’m required to finish things, then I am ready to do that as well. As a cricketer, I think you need to improve with time. I have taken some time and things are coming off pretty well for me now,” he said.
Hardik, the Man of the Match, thought T. Natarajan (2/20 in 4 overs) should have got the award on Sunday. “He keeps it simple and does exactly what the team wants him to do. That shows his character,” Hardik said.
Captain Virat Kohli too thinks that it’s Hardik’s time now.
“He realises that this is his time, the next 4-5 years, to be that bankable player that can win you games from anywhere. His plans are right and I’m glad to see that,” Kohli said.
