Champions Trophy 2017 : Dhoni’s Tips Helps Me In Finishing Innings, Says Hardik Pandya
Nov 2, 2023 at 3:51 PM
Hardik Pandya had been an asset for India for a long time. Starting from his all round performance in IPL this year to his hitting powers the other day in a warm-up match against Bangladesh sums up the fact that he perfectly guides the lower order of the team.
After early wickets fell for India, things seemed a bit messed up for the team but Karthik and Pandya’s blistering innings helped India reach a commendable score to fight. Pandya smashed a blistering 80 not out off just 54 balls with four sixes to take India to 324/7 in 50 overs.
With scores of 40*, 19* and 56 against England in the three ODIs in January, he like Jadhav, had performed well for the side. The form he showed for Mumbai Indians in this year’s IPL; augurs well for the team.
Pandya says that all these performances lately and the development has been due to MS Dhoni’s advice to him during England ODI. Not only the game but the player too helped the youngster to upgrade his mental strength.
“I still remember one incident when I asked him how to finish the games. And he said that you need to make sure you look at the scoreboard. You need to make sure you see the situations and play accordingly. That way I have noticed that you don’t put pressure on yourself. Because you want the team to win, that’s the motive. So you don’t have your own personal thing that you have to do something special, that pressure is not on you. You just have to focus on what you can do for the team and play according to the situation. So that was a big tip which he gave me and which eventually helped me.” he said
This is exactly what Pandya did against Bangladesh. Similar situation, the team was in hot waters when Pandya came to bat. The team needed a partnership and a calm and poise innings.
“When the clouds are there, the ball is swinging and batsmen are in trouble. When it’s bright and shiny, it’s a flat track. It’s the first time I have seen something like this,” he said. “I thought when I went out to bat, it was cloudy and that I had to take some time. We all know that once you spend time on the England wickets, you can score in the end. That was the plan and I had a chat with Mahi bhai as well. He said the same thing. If you can take some time at the start, later on, the runs were there to come.”
“Obviously it’s very different to what you do from India, the situations and the conditions. I thought I should have bowled slightly fuller in the first game. It was just that it was the Indian length which we are used to. The quicker you adapt, it is useful for the team.” he said
Though skipper, Virat Kohli is extremely happy with the team’s performance and also praised the youngster for such an incredible innings!