India captain Hardik Pandya admitting wanting to bat first in the recently concluded first T20I against Sri Lanka in Mumbai was surprising to say the least. If truth be told, it was surprising more so because it was came from someone who had played the fifth-highest number of T20s at the Wankhede Stadium and was expected to be well-versed with teams’ knack of sealing run-chases here.
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Pandya’s rationale behind not wanting to bowl first was that he wanted to challenge his comparatively inexperienced players by throwing them out of their comfort zone. Pandya iterated the same on being asked about the reason for giving the last over of a T20I to all-rounder Axar Patel ahead of himself and spinner Yuzvendra Chahal.
“I want to put this team in difficult situations because it will help us in big games,” Pandya told Star Sports during the post-match presentation ceremony tonight. Although unconventional, the 29-year old player’s both decisions fell into place as India beat Sri Lanka by 2 runs after Patel managed to defend 13 runs in the 20th over.
Pandya, who scored a mediocre 29 (27) in the first innings, gave away just 12 runs in his three economical powerplay overs. Opening the bowling for India, Pandya couldn’t pick a wicket himself but acknowledged how the likes of Shivam Mavi and Umran Malik picked bowling figures of 8-0-49-6 between them.
Unfortunate to have not won a Player of the Match award on his international debut, Pandya showing utmost faith in Mavi in his first match is an award in itself. “I have seen him [Shivam Mavi] bowl well in the IPL and I know what are his strengths. Just back yourself and don’t worry about getting hit,” Pandya revealed his advice to the debutant.
Hardik Pandya provides relief to Indian fans by sharing Injury Update
In addition to some Indian batters getting out cheaply and spinners getting hit for boundaries, a significant moment of concern for Indian fans during the match was seeing Pandya struggle with fitness-related issuers on a couple of occasions.
Pandya, who bowled three overs on the trot, seemed to be slightly jittery after his only spell of the match. The skipper of the home team was again the centre of attraction right after he back-pedaled to grab a catch. While Pandya completed the catch successfully, he was immediately seen in pain resulting in walking off the ground for a brief period.
“It is just cramps. Now I have tendency to scare people but if I am smiling [on the field], then everything is fine. It was a rough [last] night. I was unwell, did not sleep well and had my fluids down. Hence, the glutes were stiff,” Pandya reassured fans with respect to his fitness.
