“I think Mahi woke up”, Manish Pandey on India’s late flourish in Centurion
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Manish Pandey has credited MS Dhoni for India’s late surge of runs in the first innings at Centurion, where they scored 55 runs in the last four overs to hand the hosts a target of 189. Pandey also added that he wasn’t surprised by Heinrich Klaasen’s form having seen him perform in A level matches.
For the first time in limited overs series, India found themselves in a proper mess as the top four batsmen were back in the dressing room with just under half the innings to go. With the scoreboard reflecting just 92 runs on the board at the end of the 11th over, the chances of reaching an expected par score of 175 looked to be a distant dream. Even with four overs to go, India didn’t look any close to the par score with the scoreboard reading just 133 runs. However, Pandey and Dhoni, who stitched together a brilliant unbeaten 98 run partnership, ended up scoring 55 runs in the remaining overs to guide the visitors to a competitive total of 188.
When asked about the flourish of runs in the death, Pandey, at the post match press conference, said, "I think Mahi woke up. (Laughs). It was his chance, he's probably the best lower down the order. In the last couple of overs he looks to dominate and that's what happens. He's done that a number of times. I thought SA bowled fairly well. It's just that a couple of inside edges went to the boundary and some really good shots by Mahi took us to 188. I think South Africa bowled fairly well today."
Even though Dhoni’s pyrotechnics at the end stole the show, it was Pandey who finished as the top scorer for India with a well made 79 off just 48 balls. Centurion holds a special place for Pandey as it was at the same venue almost nine years ago that he rose to stardom by becoming the first Indian to score a IPL century. Pandey claimed that he had been itching to get back on the ground in the limited overs series and was happy that he got the chance to do it.
"I was waiting to play here. Even in the ODIs, I was trying to squeeze my chances in but that didn't happen. T20 was good and Centurion has been good to me. I still remember the 100 I got here about 9-10 years ago," Pandey revealed.
While India have ruled the roost in the limited overs series with their impressive performances with both the ball and the bat, there are still some cracks in the team that have been papered over. The quality of the top-3 batsmen has never been in question but the performances of the players following them have left a lot to be desired. The No. 4 spot has almost become a mystery with many claiming it could lead to India’s downfall in a knockout game.Â
Pandey has always been in the reckoning for the place in the Indian middle order but has never been able to cement it. He has been given chances to play at his preferred No. 4 spot but has been asked to do a job at the No. 5 place as well. However, Pandey suggested that the success of the top-3 batsmen has made it difficult for the middle order to perform since they don’t get enough time in the middle.
"Sometimes I feel.. you know I bat at no. 5. I've got a few chances at No. 4, I've delivered. Batting combinations sometimes pushes me down to 5. I've tried my bit but I also feel I could do a bit more with myself. India have got a really good top line-up. We have top three batting for about 35-40 overs with guys like Virat and then Mahi coming in ahead of me. But yeah I think it'd be nice to get some more chances and wish I could deliver more. Actually, I can deliver a lot more than I am doing right now," he explained.
Pandey even went as far as to explain the pressure of being a candidate for the middle order in the Indian team by claiming, "Honestly, it is a little tough. It works on your mind a lot. Especially this tour I felt a lot actually. I had to see a doctor also because of that.
"But it is okay, It is part of the game, that's what cricket is all about. You have to wait for your chances, especially to play for a team like India where you have all stars and legends after legends. So you have to be patient and try my bit there.”
"It is tough. Playing for India at no.5... you know people who have batted for India at No. 5 before me, Raina is there, Yuvi pa was there. To fill in their shoes it is a little tough. In the last couple of years, (the) Indian line-up is doing really well up top. You have to be really patient for your chances. From the ball one you have to go after it. That's what I tried to do in the first game. I've come back and I'm playing after a long time, it works on the mind little bit. Today was a good day for me and I still want to continue the way I've always played."
Even though it looked like India had managed to put up a match winning score on the board after the first innings, it was anything but that. Heinrich Klaasen and JP Duminy made a mockery of the target and the former, in particular, was extremely impressive with a 30-ball 69. However, Pandey said that he was not surprised by the South African’s effort having seen him perform upclose in the India A games.
"It has been two years now. Even in the India A series we've played against him, he was part of South Africa A, he scored a 100 against us. It didn't really surprise me. I've seen a 100, I've seen the runs he's got before, also in one of the ODIs he got (a) fair bit. It's not very surprising because I've seen him and played with him for quite some time now. But it is good to see him bat the way he's batting right now. That's the way he plays in the A series. So it is good to see that," Pandya concluded.
