Hardik Pandya discloses the person behind his success: The Indian all-rounder was vocal about a former cricketer who shaped his career.
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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who returned to cricket earlier this month after an injury sustained during the Asia Cup, recently disclosed the person behind his success. Surprisingly for the Indians fans, he hasn’t names one out of Mahendra Singh Dhoni or Virat Kohli.
In an exclusive interview with Times Now, Pandya chose former Australia captain Ricky Ponting as the person behind his success. “Ricky [Ponting] is someone who has been fantastic. Even the way he backed me,” Pandya said.
“Yes, my international career started with MS. But the actual career which I think that people started noticing me was because of Ricky. He backed me, he saw something in me. You need opportunities, someone who backs you. You need the support which Ricky gave. It made me play freely. I was a different cricketer altogether,” he further said.
Apparently, Ponting was Mumbai Indians’ coach when the franchise had bought Pandya in 2015. Having made a name for himself in his maiden IPL season, Pandya had given hints of becoming India’s much-needed fast bowling all-rounder.
The 25-year old cricketer laid emphasis on learning from Ponting. “I learned so much. There were things I didn’t understand which he explained to me. More than anything else, such a legend talking to you so normally and treating you like his little brother and a son,” he added.
Pandya went on to add that he is in contact with Ponting till date. “I am still very close with him. He explained to me how things happened at the big circuit and how I needed to play in different situations,” he concluded.
Having been called to the Indian Test squad in the middle of the Australia series, it will be intriguing to see if the team management includes Pandya in the playing XI for the Boxing Day Test.
Read some of the latest Twitter reactions on Pandya below:
