IND vs SA | Trained twice a day last month and now I'm fit as ever, reveals Hardik Pandya

After two long, grueling tournaments in the form of IPL and World Cup, it was almost inevitable that Hardik Pandya's body was going to break down post the showdowns. Knowing this, the selectors rightly decided to rest the Mumbai Indians man for the tour of the Caribbean, giving him ample time to both rest and recover. But being the freak that he is, Pandya instead spent his time in improving his fitness and building his endurance and now the all-rounder has revealed that this is the fittest he has ever been.

"It was important for me (the break) as the IPL was long and then the World Cup followed and I had a good run in both tournaments. So, I was looking to give it my best and that required my body to get some rest as precaution is better than cure," Pandya told Times of India.

"The rest has helped me a lot and my fitness has gone to the next level. I started doing pilates and that has helped me a lot. This isn't something very usual between cricketers. So, that is why I wanted to see how it works and it has worked really well. This last one month, I trained twice a day. It was important that I try something new to improve my back. It was important for me and my game to take this break," he added.

Such has been Pandya's dedication level that he travelled all the way to Baroda to train as heavy outpours in Mumbai disrupted his preparation.

"It was raining in Mumbai so I decided in two hours flat that I will go back home and prepare for the series against South Africa," he revealed.

Pandya, who was one of the stars for India in the 2019 World Cup, has stated that the team has moved on from the heartbreak and that their focus will now be on winning the WT20 in Australia next year. He also admitted that 30 minutes of madness cost India the World Cup but added that he was content with the team's performance in the World Cup, saying that they played like champions for the most part.

"It was difficult and we all felt the same pain, but life moves on. I would have been more upset if we as a team hadn't done justice to our performance.

"I think as a team we played as champions and except for those 30 minutes, I thought we played outstandingly and everyone was contributing and looking to excel. It is just how it is at the knockout stage. We have kind of moved on and we want to focus on the next World Cup (WT20) and win that," the 25-year-old said.

The Baroda all-rounder also revealed that he thrives under pressure while expressing his happiness over the coach and the captain trusting him. Pandya also added that the key to his success lied on him just going on the field and expressing himself and not try to do something out of the ordinary.

"When someone like your captain and coach backs you, the confidence increases and you look to express yourself and that brings out the best in you. I have always made sure that I understood the situation and then enjoy myself. Enjoying the game decreases the pressure. I have confidence in myself so there is no question of pressure.

"The captain and coach expect me to do well and that gives me confidence because that means I have done something nice in my short career. It is always important to go out and enjoy yourself because at the end of the day it is a sport and I love the sport," he said.

India will take on South Africa in the first of three T20Is at Dharamsala on Sunday.