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When MS Dhoni told Hardik Pandya not to get ‘over excited’

Chaithanya Sagar
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Hardik Pandya is an animated character. He is a sheer hardworking all-rounder by trait. Deemed as ‘Jacques Kallis’ of India, he is doing everything to make his presence count either as an attacking batsman or as a handy bowler.

After mesmerizing spells in the IPL, he managed to grab the selectors’ eyeballs through which he earned a golden place in India’s setup. Hardik Pandya made his international debut in Adelaide on January 26, 2016.

Hardik Pandya who bowled 3 overs, gave away 37 runs but he picked up two wickets to his name. Before that, he revealed the best feeling when he was asked to bowl an over my MS Dhoni. Hardik also said that MS Dhoni backed him a lot and that’s the kind of confidence one needs after making the first appearance.

“First time in my life I was blank, I didn’t know what to do. But Dhoni bhai being a such a legend and calm person said ‘Aaja doosra over daal’ (come, bowl another over). And after that, I took two wickets. I still remember in the post-match press conference, Dhoni Bhai said ‘I knew that after the first over, he will be a better bowler for sure,” Hardik Pandya told Gaurav Kapur at Breakfast with Champions Show.

Once Hardik Pandya got Chris Lynn out, he still remembers the fact of being excited to the core. But, MS Dhoni who had a clear view of the entire scene commanded Hardik Pandya not to get very excited as it could lead to the umpires slapping a fine on him under the ‘ICC Code of Conduct’ rule.

“After getting Lynn out, I still remember I got very much excited. Dhoni bhai then said ‘you are doing this thing for the last time because you will get yourself banned also the team will lose a key player. So we don’t want that’. I was like ‘ya sorry’. I could have been the first player to get ICC Code of Conduct warning in the first international game,” Hardik Pandya said.

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