He is not in India’s Test squad for the upcoming series against Australia but fresh from his white-ball heroics, all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Sunday said he wouldn’t mind staying back if the team management wants. Coming back from a back surgery, Pandya, who is yet to start bowling on a regular basis, shone bright with the bat in the limited overs matches against Australia, helping the visitors claim the T20 series after two big losses in the preceding ODI rubber. Asked if he aspires to stay back for the four-match Test series starting December 17, Pandya said, “It’s a different ball game, I think I need to be, I mean I don’t mind but at the end of the day, the call is on the management. So, yeah, I don’t think I can say much about it.”
Pandya arrived in Australia having a played a key role for Mumbai Indians in their title-winning run in the Indian Premier League.
On Sunday, he powered India to a six-wicket win with a blazing 42 off 22 balls, helping the side score 25 off 12 balls and 14 in the final over for a series-clinching victory in the second and penultimate T20 International against Australia.
The flamboyant all-rounder said he had worked on gaining mastery over “finishing games when it mattered the most” during the coronavirus-forced lockdown.
“During lockdown I wanted to focus on finishing games where it matters the most. It doesn’t matter whether I score or don’t score more runs,” Pandya said at the post-match press conference.
The all-rounder was not new to the kind of situation he faced with at the SCG on Sunday, having won some and lost a few in the past.
“I have been in these situations many times and I learnt from my mistakes in the past. My game is always around the confidence which I carry, it has that fine line where I back myself and not become overconfident.
“I always remember all those times when we chased big totals and it helps,” said the man who is a pretty good zone” at the moment and playing according to the situation instead of getting too excited.
Pandya hit debutant pacer Daniel Sams for two sixes — one over long on and one over midwicket — to seal the game in India’s favour with two balls to spare.
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”It was not about what they are doing, it was about what I can do. It’s a matter of two big shots and today it came off. I always back myself. It’s the situation I have always played. Whatever the team requires I always try to do.
“It’s very simple. I like to look at scoreboard and play so that I know which bowlers to target.”
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