Pandya’s red-hot ton tempered by Dhoni’s calmness

PALLEKELE: For someone who has not scored many hundreds in his career, it was remarkable how Hardik Pandya paced his innings during his maiden Test hundred.

Biding his time initially, getting his eye in and feet moving, shielding his tail-enders and then finally going after the bowling, it was more a seasoned pro in action and not someone who had yet to get a hundred even in first-class cricket.

Pandya didn’t even remember when he scored his last hundred.

When asked about his last hundred, Pandya hesitated. “I scored in under-19. I am 24, no 23. So, some four-five years back, I scored my hundred. Actually I don’t remember when I scored the hundred.”

NO NERVES

The best part was the ease with which he got to the mark with no signs of nervous nineties. He owed the calm nerves to former India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s mentoring.

“(It was the) first time in my life I have not had the 90s butterflies. I don’t remember previous centuries, but I used to have butterflies in my stomach from what I can remember. I have said when I bat I am in a different zone. I don’t think about my personal scores and achievements. It has helped me. One thing I learned from Mahi bhai is that you always put your team ahead, see the scoreboard and play accordingly. That has helped me throughout.”

Pandya started his Test career with a fifty, in the first match of this series at Galle. He came up with an impressive spell when Sri Lankan batsmen Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne were raising a 188-run partnership in the second Test in Colombo. And at Pallekele, after his hundred, he came back and took a wicket off his third delivery.

So, is he making Test cricket look so easy?

“Obviously not!” said Pandya. “But I am pretty glad. God has been kind to me. I am lucky I got things pretty quickly in life. I am just happy that way.”

Pandya said his hundred (108) was all about playing according to the situation and the 26-run over (off Malinda Pushpakumara) just happened. “Honestly, I didn’t want to go all out in that over, but I don’t know what happened. Maybe I was connecting pretty well, and scored 26 runs. It obviously feels good. I saw the scoreboard and I was batting on 80, and I was like, wow! Then I felt I was in the zone, I don’t usually look at the scoreboard, I don’t want to know what’s happening around. I just focus on how I can help the innings progress.”