Our bench strength a good sign: Hardik
PTI/HTC
MALAHIDE: He struck gold in his debut season as captain in IPL, and all-rounder Hardik Pandya says that responsibility brings out the best in him.
Pandya, who led Gujarat Titans to the title in the side’s debut season, has been named captain of the India team for the two-match T20 series against Ireland. The first game will be played here on Sunday.
The all-rounder said he believes in taking ownership on the field. “Earlier also, I liked taking responsibility and now also it is the same, but it is a bit more responsibility now. I always believed that I did better when I took responsibility,” Pandya said in a virtual press conference on Saturday. Playing under MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli taught Pandya a lot about leadership, but he said every captain has his style.
“I have taken a lot of things from them, but I also want to be myself. My understanding of the game is different,” he said.
“I am not instinctive but see the situation more than go by my gut feeling. At what point of time, what decision the team requires, I focus on that... Gut always goes 50-50.”
India are fielding their reserve players in the series against Ireland and Pandya said the bench strength India possess now is a good sign for the game in the country.
“If such a situation arises that we have to send two teams, we are very lucky we have the bench strength where we can allow the players to go and express, and a lot of people will get opportunities,” he said.
“Playing for India is always a dream and for them to achieve that will be fantastic.”
Pandya said they would approach the short series the same way they play in a big tournament.”it’s a challenge mentally, it is easier to say that we are playing Ireland, but playing for India is the biggest thing.”
India hold a 3-0 T20 win record against Ireland. Though missing many of the main players who are preparing for the final Test against England, they are expected to adopt the aggressive top-order batting plan put in place for recent games.