Hardik Pandya is currently one of the most important pillars of the Indian national team at the moment. After his comeback last year, he is looking unstoppable and is named the vice-captain of the white-ball formats as well. However, Pandya’s start in international cricket was no less than a nightmare.
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The Indian all-rounder made his debut against Australia in a T20I match at the Adelaide Oval in 2016. Hardik was asked to bowl the 8th over of the Australian innings, and he bowled 11 deliveries to complete the over where he conceded 19 runs as well. It was a horrid start for Pandya, but he was called again to bowl the 15th over.
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Chris Lynn smashed a six on the 2nd ball of the 15th over as well, but after that, Pandya bowled a decent spell. It was MS Dhoni who gave Pandya a chance to bowl again despite bowling soo poorly in the first over. Pandya once revealed how Dhoni cooled him down in his debut match.
Hardik Pandya once recalled how MS Dhoni controlled his over-excitement
Pandya appeared on the show Breakfast with Champions, where he talked about the influence of Dhoni on him in his debut match. He revealed that he was blank after the first over, but it was Dhoni who asked him to bowl the 2nd over.
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In his 2nd over, Pandya took the wicket of Lynn, and he got over-excited upon his first international dismissal. Pandya agreed that he was crossing the line in his celebrations, and it was Dhoni who reminded him that he can get banned, and the team will lose a player which will be harmful to the side.
“I didn’t know what to do. But Mahi bhai being a legend said ‘aaja doosra over daal’ [come, bowl another over],” Hardik Pandya said.
“After getting Lynn out, I still remember I got over-excited. Mahi bhai then said ‘you are doing this thing for the last time because you will get banned plus the team will lose a player. So we don’t want that’. I was like ‘ya sorry’. I might be the first player to get ICC Code of Conduct warning in the first international game.”
Pandya finsihed with figures of 3-0-37-2, he didn’t bat in that match. The rest of the two matches weren’t great for Pandya in the series too. However, he was given a long run was selected in 2016 T20 World Cup squad too.
Pandya has said many times that Dhoni has played a vital part in his career. Dhoni has retired from international cricket, but he will be seen on the field yet again in the IPL 2023 and has started practicing for the same as well.
