Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya heaped praise on skipper Rohit Sharma, saying he also gave players the freedom to play the kind of game they feel comfortable in. Hardik said that with such an attitude, the players will get more responsibilities despite the failures.
“As far as attitude is concerned, a lot of credit goes to Rohit and the coach (Rahul Dravid). Yesterday we were talking about how to play on this wicket because the wicket is slow. Would you like to keep your style? I mean a lot of credit goes to him.”
He said, “Forget the result, we are trying something new. We will make mistakes and learn from them.” Hardik also heaped praise on Suryakumar Yadav, who played a vital role in helping India lead 2-1.
He said, “Surya is an extraordinary player. When he starts playing and the shots he plays are astonishing. Today he played a brilliant innings and it was not an easy task. Full credit goes to him. He worked hard.”
Hardik also praised the Indian middle order which includes players like Rishabh Pant, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja. He said, “It builds a lot of confidence. Even if three wickets go for 10 runs, the opposing team still thinks that this team can score 190 runs with the help of middle-order batsmen.
Now that the T20 World Cup in Australia is around the corner, Hardik has indicated that he is ready to play the role of the third fast bowler in the team. Hardik said, “I have always enjoyed bowling to the fullest. I have said many times in the past that I need some time to get back to bowling. When I bowl it gives balance to the team and confidence to the captain.”
“Meanwhile I was used as a ‘filler’ but now I can say that I can do full four overs as the third or fourth fast bowler of the team,” he said. Hardik said, “I am grateful for what life has given me. If you work hard with honesty, then you get the benefit of it despite the ups and downs of life.
