The ODI series against Australia might not have yielded the desired results for the Men in Blue, but there was surely something which MS Dhoni’s boys could take back. The most positive aspect of the ODI series against Australia was that two youngsters performed exceptionally well for India and that pretty much gives an optimistic message about the future.
Pacer Jasprit Bumrah, according to skipper MS Dhoni was the “find of the tour”. But from the batting front, it was Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey who stole the show. Pandey hit an icy cool ton in the fifth ODI to guide India to safe waters while chasing a mammoth total. Pandey, who has been around the India setup for some time, feels that the knock has opened up more avenues for him in the near future.
“I have waited for long to play for India and I finally I got the opportunity I was looking for in the last one-dayer. That is how I normally bat. I wanted to make full use of the opportunity and I think I did. So job well done but I won’t be banking on this performance in the games to come. “It was a long wait but I was not thinking about it to be honest. It was all about making full use of the chances I got in the middle. I thought I was ready as I had good runs behind me and a lot of experience with regards to first-class cricket. And that is what Ravi Shastri sir told me there. Mahi was also very supportive,” Pandey said.
“Getting a hundred at the international level is always a big achievement and it was my first one. So somewhere I have an idea of what I have done. Looking at the bigger picture, I would say it is a very good start to my international career,” Pandey said. “I want to take my Australia experience forward to my next innings, try to play the same way. But yes, what I did in Australia will be definitely act as a confidence booster for me.”