‘Never wanted to be Kapil, let me be Hardik Pandya’
NOTTINGHAM: Hardik Pandya has urged everyone to stop comparing him with Kapil Dev and dismissed criticism of his performances by former players saying “they are paid to say what they do.”
On Sunday, the all-rounder grabbed five for 28 in a tantalising six-over spell of classy seam bowling to rout England for 161 and give India firm control of the third Test at Trent Bridge. India’s magical seam bowling saw them take all 10 wickets in a single session on Day 2 of a Test India need to win to stay in the series.
The visitors were pushing for a sensational comeback in the series they trail two-nil after taking a potentially match-winning lead of 292 runs at close on Day 2 on Sunday. India were 124/2 at stumps on the second day.
“The problem is, what happens is that they compare with (Kapil Dev) but all of a sudden when something goes wrong they say he is not there. I never wanted to be Kapil Dev. Let me be Hardik Pandya, I am good at being that.
“I have reached here till now; I have played 40 ODIs and 10 Tests being Hardik, not Kapil Dev. They are great in their era, let me be Hardik Pandya. Let us stop comparing me with him. I will be happy if you don’t. Thank you.”
Former West Indies pace great Michael Holding, doing TV commentary in this series and in India’s tour of South Africa, said Pandya wasn’t contributing consistently with bat or ball and is yet to be mentioned in the same breath as Kapil Dev, Ian Botham, Imran Khan or Richard Hadlee.
Pandya’s performances in this series have also been criticised by former India players. He scored 22 and 31 and took no wicket in the Edgbaston Test defeat. He made 11 and 26 and took 3/66 at Lord’s, where India lost by an innings and 159 runs. He scored 18 in the first innings at Trent Bridge.
The 24-year-old dismissed the criticism. “First of all, I don’t play for them. They are getting paid for saying things. I don’t want to know, I don’t care what they say. And sir, I play for my country, it’s their job to say it and it is my job to play for my country and I am doing the right thing.”