CT 2017: Hardik Pandya had no clue he would bat ahead of MS Dhoni

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya played a very special cameo in the first game for the team in the ICC Champions Trophy. It was a big stage event with the arch-rival India and Pakistan locking horns. The top four batsmen of the Indian team struck fifties in the match. However, the final flourish was given by Pandya. Many were surprised to see Hardik walk out to bat ahead of MS Dhoni.

It was in the penultimate over of the innings when the wicket of Yuvraj Singh fell. People expected Dhoni to be coming out but it was Hardik Pandya who joined Virat Kohli at the crease. He justified his promotion as he hit three sixes in the final over to end up with an unbeaten 20 to his name. When asked if he knew he would be promoted ahead of Dhoni, Pandya revealed that he got to know about it after Yuvraj was dismissed.

“I got to know in the 46th over, when coach told me, ‘You will be going next, go pad up.’ Obviously, I padded up quickly and once I got my gloves, I went out straightaway because Yuvi paa got out,” said Hardik Pandya.

Fancying the left arm spinner

Speaking more about the final over, he quipped that he fancied his chances against the left arm spinner Imad Wasim. He had the confidence that he would do well against him. He further added that he did feel the pressure in the match. But he tried to stay calm thinking it was just another game on the day. He did not wish to take any unnecessary pressure on the day.

“When I saw the left-arm spinner, I knew that I could go for it. It’s all about backing yourself. I always feel that in cricket, you need to back yourself and be confident. Once you are confident, you take the right decision and eventually that pays off,” quoted Pandya.

“Honestly I won’t lie, the pressure was there. But still, at the back of my mind, I was thinking of it as a normal game because I didn’t want to take the unnecessary pressure. In any game, I wouldn’t want to take unnecessary pressure on myself because that makes you do something that you are not supposed to do,” he added further.

Pressure or no pressure?

Lastly, Hardik Pandya also conceded that he is not someone who takes too much of pressure because he has been playing regularly for quite sometime now. Also, the fact that he has been a part of the playing eleven for almost all games when he has been in the squad has given him a lot of confidence.

“Honestly, I don’t think I have any pressure because I have been playing regularly. I am not playing in place of anyone, it’s just the requirement of the team based on the conditions on offer. Since I made my international debut, I have played all the games that I was part of the squad for, except for one which I sat out in Visakhapatnam,” conceded the all-rounder.