India’s talismanic all-rounder Hardik Pandya has revealed the team’s next goal. Pandya who was rested for the tour of the West Indies has stated that the next focus of the Indian team is to try and win the next T20I World Cup, which will be played in Australia. India was knocked out of the World Cup by eventual runners-up New Zealand in the semifinal.
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The Men in Blue were ruthless throughout the tournament but could not bring their best to the table in the knockout match. The 30 minutes of bad play was good enough to knock India out of the tournament. However, Hardik Pandya revealed that it took the team some time to move on but eventually they all have done it.
Pandya will like to make a solid comeback.
“It was difficult and we all felt the same pain, but life moves on. I would have been more upset if we as a team hadn’t done justice to our performance. I think as a team we played as champions and except for those 30 minutes, I thought we played outstandingly and everyone was contributing and looking to excel. It is just how it is at the knockout stage. We have kind of moved on and we want to focus on the next World Cup (WT20) and win that,” he said.
India is next scheduled to play a home series against South Africa which will begin with the T20I series from 15 September. Pandya revealed that he doesn’t set any individual goals but he tries to prepare himself in the best possible way. The talismanic all-rounder also uploaded a video in which he was seen practicing with his elder brother, Krunal.
Pandya ? Pandya in training
I think I won that round big bro @krunalpandya24 ??
P.S: Sorry for almost knocking your head off ??? pic.twitter.com/492chd1RZh
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) September 11, 2019
No individual goals set.
“To be honest, I don’t keep goals because I let something out of the box happen. I just focus on preparing well and focus on the areas I wish to work on. I think that magical things do happen. So, I let my game speak and go with the situation. You never know when my team is down and I might stand up and do something special. I focus on that. South Africa is a good team and a good series will give us momentum in T20s,” he smiled.
Pandya is back in the T20I side after getting the much-needed rest for the series against West Indies. The Baroda all-rounder said it was a good break for him after continuous cricket.
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“It was important for me (the break) as the IPL was long and then the World Cup followed and I had a good run in both the tournaments. So, I was looking to give it my best and that required my body to take some rest as a precaution is better than cure and that is when the call was taken by the team management that I come back fully fit for the South Africa series,” he added.
Hardik Pandya will like to hit the ground running when India will take on South Africa in the first T20I at Dharamshala on 15th September.
