Hardik Pandya responds to critics with a hard hitting statement, asking them not to worry about him too much.
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Hardik Pandya was on fire yesterday. The all-rounder picked his first 5 wicket haul in test cricket and less than 5 overs is all he needed to achieve this feat. He made the ball to swing and England was just clueless about it.
Pandya came into the attack and picked up the prized scalp of opposition captain joe root on the very first ball of his sensational spell. Pandya completed his 5 wicket haul by trapping Stuart broad LBW.
It is worth noting that Pandya has been immensely criticised for his performances with both the bat and the ball. Some have even gone onto the extent of saying that he is neither a proper batsman nor a proper bowler.
The latest comments came from the veteran Michael holding
With him saying that he doesn’t find pandya doing a lot with the ball. He also pointed about how inconsistent pandya his with his line and lengths.
“I don’t think he does a lot with the ball,” said Holding. “He is not consistent.”
“I heard a mention, when I was working in South Africa: ‘he is the next Kapil Dev’. I ain’t going to tell anybody he’s not going to be the next Kapil Dev, but he is nowhere near there yet.
“And they (India) need to find someone who can contribute a lot more to this team right now.”
Pandya, of course, has answered his critics in style. In an interview after the conclusion of day two, this is what pandya had to say.
Quite happy with the five-for. We’re happy with the lead too, really happy for the team as the batsmen applied themselves and got us a decent lead. I remember as a bowling unit during lunch, we got together and focused on bowling in the right areas. The ball was swinging in the morning but we didn’t get wickets, so Ishant and I tried to stifle the runs and see what happens,”.
He also said that it didn’t matter to him much what people think about him. He said that he is backed by his team and that is only what he needed.
Let’s not worry about me, I know what I’m doing, and I don’t care what people say about me. The team backs me and that’s important,” concluded the all-rounder.
Team India is in a very strong position at the end of day two and stand a very good chance to make the scoreline 2-1.
