Hardik Pandya on Winning Against Pakistan: Hardik Pandya – the player of the match winner in India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2022 match says the bowler is under more pressure than him in the 20th over.
The arch rivalry India vs Pakistan match made everyone sit on the edge of their seats, particularly in the second innings’ death overs.
Hardik Pandya on Winning Against Pakistan
Batting first Pakistan scored 147 runs for 10 wickets loss where Rizwan scored the highest of 43 runs. Hardik with the ball uprooted 3 main wickets like Rizwan, Iftikhar Ahmed, and Khushdil for 43, 28, and 2 runs.
During the chase, India made an unfavoured start where they lose KL Rahul in the very first over. Soon Rohit walks out for 12 runs while Virat loses his wicket for 35 runs. At a stage, India was in a need of 41 runs off 24 balls while Hardik and Jadeja pose threat for Pakistan bowlers.
But Jadeja’s wicket in the first ball of the last over made a dramatic situation but Hardik handled it like a pro and hits a six off the 4th delivery and leads India to win the match by 5 wickets.
“In a chase like this, you always plan over-by-over. I always knew that there is one young bowler (Naseem or Shahnawaz Dahani) and also one left-arm spinner (Nawaz),” Pandya said after the match.
“We only needed 7 off the last over but even if we needed 15, I’d have fancied myself. I know the bowler is under more pressure than me in the 20th over. I try to keep things simple,” said India’s No. 1 all-rounder.
From @hardikpandya7‘s emotional Asia Cup journey to @imjadeja‘s solid batting display! 👍 👍
The all-rounder duo chat up after #TeamIndia win their #AsiaCup2022 opener against Pakistan – by @ameyatilak
Full interview 🎥 🔽 https://t.co/efJHpc4dBo #INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/MJOij6bDRl
— BCCI (@BCCI) August 29, 2022
As far as bowling is concerned, Hardik knew that he needed to mix the short balls and induce batters into making mistakes.
“In bowling, it’s important to assess the situations and use your weapons. For me, bowling short and the hard lengths have been my strengths. It’s about using them well and asking the right questions to make the batters commit a mistake,” he said.
Indian skipper Rohit Sharma says he’s been brilliant since his comeback. India captain Rohit Sharma always knew that the match was under control and was all praise for Hardik.
“Halfway through the chase, we still knew that we can win irrespective of the situation. We had the belief and when you have that belief, these things can happen,” Rohit said.
For Rohit, Hardik is a man, who now knows what he needs to do in specific situations.
“Since the time he (Hardik) has made his comeback, he’s been brilliant. When he was not part of the team, he figured what he needs to do to his body and his fitness regime, and now he is clocking 140 easily.
“His batting quality we all know and it’s been brilliant since his comeback. He is a lot calmer now and more confident about what he wants to do, whether it’s with the bat or with the ball.” That Hardik can bowl quick was on display on the day.
“He can bowl really quickly, we saw that today with those short balls. It was always about just understanding his game and he’s doing that well now. In a high-pressure with 10 runs per over needed, you can panic but he never showed any of that,” the skipper said.
India will their next match against Hong Kong on August 31 in Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
