ICC World Cup 2019 | Hardik Pandya has gone to England with a lot of confidence, says Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar has stated that after an amazing season in the IPL with Mumbai Indians, Hardik Pandya has boarded the flight to England with a lot of confidence and positive energy. Tendulkar also opined that MS Dhoni should bat at number five for the Indian team at the World Cup.
Hardik Pandya was the stellar performer for the 2019 IPL winners - Mumbai Indians - as he scored a mammoth 402 runs and picked up 14 wickets from 16 matches as Rohit Sharma & Co. won their fourth IPL title earlier this month. Pandya, deservedly, earned a spot in Indiaās 15-man squad and will be a key player if the Men in Blue want to go all the way in the upcoming showpiece event that starts on May 30.
Sachin Tendulkar, who helped India win their second World Cup title in 2011, heaped praise on the MI all-rounder as he added that a successful stint in this yearās IPL meant thatĀ Hardik left for England filled with confidence.
"I have general chats with Hardik. Our aim [at Mumbai Indians] was to first win the IPL and then look at anything else. Even in IPL one would go match and match and not jump too far ahead. That was our motto. We kept things simple in the IPL. Now we have moved to the World Cup. Looking at the way how Hardik has played in the IPL, he is connecting the ball really well. He hasn't slogged, to be honest. He has played proper cricketing shots, which is an advantage because that is how one would get more consistent. That is going to work in his favour. Hardik, of course, has gone to England with lots and lots of confidence and positive energy, which will reflect on the field.
"This is going to be a big tournament for him. I am hoping that we, as a team, move forward and go all the way till the end and give a reason for the whole nations to smile and celebrate," Tendulkar said a recent interview with ESPNCricinfo.
The Mumbai-born batsman further spoke about the role that World Cup-winning captain MS Dhoni will play in the upcoming globalĀ event in England and Wales. Tendulkar is of the opinion that Dhoni should bat at number five in the Indian batting line-up.
"My personal opinion is Dhoni should be batting five. I still don't know what the team combination would be, but if you are going Rohit and Shikhar as openers, to Virat at No. 3 and whoever at No. 4 then Dhoni could be No. 5. Then Hardik Pandya, an explosive player, follows them. That way the experienced batsmen are well spaced out and Dhoni can stretch the game towards the end where he himself can be explosive along with Hardik," Tendulkar added.