Indian Cricket Team News: Vijay Shankar quashes competition reports with Hardik Pandya during 2019 World Cup | Indian all-rounder wants to win matches for India.
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India all-rounder Vijay Shankar has quashed reports about competition with fellow all-rounder Hardik Pandya. With both the cricketers being pace-bowling all-rounders, news of them competing against each other are likely to do the rounds.
Shankar quashes competition reports with Hardik Pandya
“I don’t think I am competing with Hardik [Pandya]. He is a terrific cricketer. Yes, we are all-rounders but we are different from each other. And why do we need to compete? It would be great if both of us can contribute in India’s victory,” Shankar was quoted as saying to PTI.
Expected to bat at No. 4 in the first World Cup match against South Africa, Shankar has a huge responsibility on his shoulders. Other than his defensive skills, Shankar is also known to hit the long ball after getting his eye in.
“I love hitting those big sixes. The key for me is to retain my shape. I have not been successful when I have tried to muscle the ball but whenever I have held shape, the ball has gone into the stands,” Shankar disclosed his secret of playing the big shots.
“If I need to ask anything, I go up to Mahi bhai or Virat…”
Having made his ODI debut against Australia earlier this year, Shankar impressed one and all with his first ODI innings. Coming in to bat at 18/4 in the 10th over, Shankar scored 45 (64) with the help of four fours in a 98-run partnership with Ambati Rayudu.
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“The series against New Zealand was a great confidence-booster as I could score that 40 odd in tough conditions when the team needed me. I needed that self belief and now I am ready for whatever the team tells me to do,” Shankar said.
Admitting that he speaks less off the field, Shankar mentioned that he doesn’t shy away from asking queries from senior players in the team. “Yes, I am a quiet person off the field. But if I need to ask anything, I can go up to Mahi bhai [MS Dhoni] or Virat [Kohli] and pick their brains and they are happy to answer. I am not shy when it comes to asking questions,” Shankar concluded.
