India’s new T20 captain Hardik Pandya is eager to see his team tackle tough situations as he tries to transform it into an outfit capable of ending the grueling run of the country in world events.
Under Hardik’s guidance, India started the three-match T20 series against neighboring Sri Lanka on a winning note, overcoming the Islanders by two runs on Tuesday.
Hardik had to leave the field after a flyout.
“It’s just cramps. Now I have a tendency to scare people. I didn’t sleep well, didn’t drink enough water and that made my glutes stiff. I was unwell and I had my fluids down,” said Hardik at the presentation ceremony .
Since Sri Lanka needed 13 runs in the last over to overhaul India’s total of 162, the decision to give spinner Axar Patel the ball was a bit surprising.
“We can lose a game here and there, but that’s okay. I want to put this team in difficult situations because it will help us in big games. We are very good bilaterally and that’s how we’re going to challenge ourselves.
“To be fair, all the young guns got us out of the situation today.” One of the youngsters who shone on the evening was debutant pacesetter Shivam Mavi. The skipper was full of praise for the fast bowler, who took 4/22 in his first T20 outing.
“The conversation was really easy, I’ve seen him (Mavi) bowl well in the IPL and I know what his strengths are, just go back and don’t worry about getting hit.
“I just told him to just bowl. I told him, ‘I’m behind you. Even if you get hit, it’s fine.” If the same situation arises, I will take the new ball.” He added: ‘I have been bowling with the new ball in the nets since I returned to the IPL. I learned how to reverse it.” Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said the visitors should have won the match.
“It was (losing our game). Really disappointing with the way we ended. In Wankhede you need the batsmen to help you cross the line.
“I use the match-ups really well and that’s why we limited India to 162. It’s still the first game and they (batters) are really good young players, they’ll be fine,” said Shanaka.
Mavi said he has been waiting for the past six years to get into the senior Indian team.
“Wait six years after playing U19. Had to work hard in those six years – also got injured. For a moment it seemed that my dream will remain a dream. But I stayed with it.
“After I played the IPL, the nervousness is a little less. My idea in the power play is to attack and get them out. Favorite dismissal was the first, which got him bowled,” Mavi said.