Hardik Pandya’s big-hitting abilities have earned him widespread praise in recent times but the India all-rounder, on Sunday, said that it is a skill he acquired since his childhood days. In the ongoing series against Australia, Pandya, on two occasions, turned the tide in India’s favour with his big-hitting abilities.
During the first One-day International in Chennai, Pandya targeted leg-spinner Adam Zampa, taking him to the cleaners en route to a whirlwind 66-ball 83 with his side in trouble. In the series-clinching ODI at Indore, he launched into left-arm spinner Ashton Agar, smashing four sixes off him
When asked if his blistering 76-run knock against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final was the turning point for him, Pandya disagreed, “If you want to think that way, you can, I have no problems. I played well in the IPL before that. Last year’s IPL wasn’t great for me, so I worked hard, and the form came back.
And I used to hit sixes before too, it’s just that I am hitting them at a higher level [International stage] now. I have been hitting sixes since childhood otherwise,” Pandya said. “So whatever you say, if you say [the] Pakistan [match] changed my game, so be it. I have no problem,” he added.
Pandya’s 78-run knock came at a time when India had lost four wickets in quick time. Pandya said he strategically chose his shots. Steve Smith dropped a catch at a crucial juncture in the game as Pandya miscued a lofted shot, “It’s not just about hitting. It’s pretty important that I read the game. That time [in Chennai] I thought that Zampa was bowling and I knew that I could hit a six off him anytime I wanted to.
That’s why I waited till the seventh over and then I got the opportunity to change the momentum and eventually one over changed the momentum in that game,” he said. “I tried and it came out pretty well. That’s just my thinking. It’s about being positive and backing yourself. If I feel like, I go for it. I read the situation and go for it.”
Batting position ‘doesn’t make a difference’
Pandya, who has been India’s designated number seven batsman, was promoted to four on Sunday, “It does not make any difference where I bat,” Pandya asserted. “Rather than seeing this as a challenge, I see this as an opportunity to do something nice for the team. When I was told I was going to go out to bat next, I was happy. This is the first time I played so many balls, so it was great,” he said. He added, “The message was always simple. Play your game, however you play. I can play all kinds of innings. Obviously the plan was to target the spinners and it came out pretty well.”
Expectations have risen on the back of Pandya’s recent exploits. The Gujarat all-rounder says he is not too worried by it: “I don’t think that much. I focus only on the things, which I can focus and right now I am just playing my cricket. I just back myself and if you back yourself, you always come out on top. I mean you can’t score everyday but yeah, backing yourself is pretty important,” he said. As for the run chase, the unfazed 23-year-old said that was only a “matter of spending more time”.
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