Ever since making a comeback in the 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League, where he led the Gujarat Titans to the title in their maiden season, Hardik Pandya has done everything right both as a batter and a seamer. He is currently at the top of his game as team India looks forward to making a solid start to the ongoing t20 World Cup 2022 in Australia. Pandya is expected to play a big role for team India in the T20 World Cup 2022.
Pandya seems quite pleased with his preparation leading up to India’s campaign opener in the World Cup, where the Rohit Sharma and Co. will lock horns with arch-rivals Pakistan in Melbourne on Sunday.
“I was always excited to come to Australia and get so much time to prepare. Because, as an individual, I have always felt that if I get the right situation and right conditions to practise, you can’t ask for a better scenario for me or the whole team than to come here and spend 17 days before the World Cup starts and get used to the conditions, atmosphere, weather and everything.”
“Credit goes to the BCCI and the team management to give us the opportunity to be prepared in the best possible capacity,” the 29-year-old said in a video posted on bcci.tv.
So far, the Indian side has played two practice matches against Western Australia in Perth and the warm-up game versus Australia in Brisbane on Monday, where Pandya has managed to score 27, 17, and 2. Though, he couldn’t get many runs in the warm0up games, but what counts for him is the approach with which he batted out there. He said:
“That was kind of almost satisfying for me mainly because of my approach and how I adapted to the situation. I played some 21 balls off the middle of the bat. That was more positive for me,”
He added: “A very good point was made by one of the players that in Australia, it’s about one inning. If you can get it early in the tournament or in a practice game and once you get used to the conditions, you can get a lot of runs. As a fast bowler too, if you can get used to the conditions and are keen to take on the responsibility, it sets you up really well for the challenge,”
Pandya also talked about how he is very close to getting back to his best in terms of fielding. He said: “My fitness has gone up, so now I am able to spend a lot of time on my fielding as well.
“Yes, I was natural, but I wanted to be exceptional in my sphere. Luckily, now with our fielding coach (T. Dilip), I’m able to spend some more time and get those difficult ones (stops).”
Pandya concluded: “The Hardik I knew used to dive around and stop the ball two metres from here and there. For me, the preparation was what mattered because once I get used to that, it’s just a reaction in the game then. My goal is to take a catch which could be the best of my career and I’m preparing for that,”
