June 23rd 2024.
Hardik Pandya's journey has been full of ups and downs, but he has always believed that bravery and perseverance will lead to success. It all started last year during a World Cup game against Bangladesh when he faced a downward spiral. He was out of the game for four months due to back-to-back injuries and then had a rocky time as the captain of Mumbai Indians in the IPL. It seemed like there was no silver lining for India's best all-rounder. However, things took a turn for the better during the T20 World Cup where Pandya was able to regain his mojo.
Reflecting on his journey, Pandya said, "I feel fortunate to have played for my country. The injury was a freak incident, and although I wanted to come back, it was not in my hands. Sometimes, God has other plans for us." He also mentioned a piece of advice given to him by coach Rahul Sir, "Luck comes to those who work hard." This has stayed with Pandya and has motivated him to keep pushing through the tough times.
Talking about the team's performance in the T20 World Cup, Pandya said, "We have played some really good cricket. But, more importantly, we have stuck together as a team and executed our plans well." In the match against Bangladesh, Pandya's half-century, along with contributions from Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, and Shivam Dube, helped India reach a respectable total of 196 runs.
Pandya was confident that this score would be enough to defend. Speaking about the pitch, he said, "It looked alright, and I think a par score would have been around 180. So, we were happy with our total of 196." He also praised Shivam Dube, who has been struggling with his form, for playing a composed innings under pressure.
As the match progressed, Pandya noticed that the pitch was getting slower, and he used this to his advantage while bowling. He also mentioned using the crosswind blowing across the stadium to his advantage while batting. "I made sure to not give the batters a chance when the wind was blowing. It's about being one step ahead as a batter," he said.
While the Indian team has put up a good performance so far in the T20 World Cup, Pandya believes that there is always room for improvement. "As a team, we can still get better in many areas. We need to work on not losing wickets in bunches and continue playing well as a unit," he said.
Senior off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin also shared his thoughts on the team's performance, saying that it's time for fans to appreciate the impact of 20s and 30s instead of just focusing on milestones like half-centuries and centuries. "We are not used to seeing batsmen getting out after scoring 30s and 20s, but it's time to embrace this approach, especially while batting first. The intent shown by all the Indian batters has been top-notch so far," he wrote on social media.
Overall, it has been a great team effort from India in the T20 World Cup, with everyone playing their roles well. As Ashwin said, it's time to give credit to those who make valuable contributions, even if they don't reach a milestone score. The team still has room for improvement, but they are looking good and determined to continue their winning streak.
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