I'm going to make sure that I finish the games, says Hardik Pandya

07/05/2017

Hardik Pandya has guaranteed that he is prepared to take on the responsibility of playing the finisher role for the Indian team, whilst acknowledging that he is still learning the job. The 23-year-old also revealed the strategy he had discussed with MS Dhoni during the last ODI against West Indies.

In recent times, Hardik Pandya has been one of the players who has made the most of his limited opportunities. "(I'm) pretty happy with the way things are going for me. I've been working hard on both the bowling and the batting. I'm trying to keep it simple and things are turning (out) pretty well," Pandya said on Tuesday during the media interaction.

In a short period, he has become an integral part of the Indian team, having played a vital role in crucial matches in the limited overs for India. After Dhoni, he is the only one who looks set to take on the mantle of finishing the games for India. Although he has earned himself the reputation of being a pinch-hitter towards the end of the innings, he has acknowledged that he needs to adapt to the given situations to make him a complete player.

"I feel that you should be brave enough to do things. I back my game, I back myself, I see the situation and I like to play accordingly. I don't count myself as a one-dimensional player. I feel that I should see the scoreboard and play accordingly. That's how I'm going to learn cricket and that's how I'm going to make sure that I finish the games," he said.

"I've been known for my sixes but I've played those (hard-working) innings as well. Throughout my life, I've batted at a number where I can just go out and hit from the first ball. In the last game the situation required me to play for singles, which I was doing. Unfortunately, I got out but my plan was always that I should finish the game, take the game deep," Pandya added.

In the fourth ODI against West Indies, team India lost the match by 11 runs while chasing the target of 190. In this match, Pandya contributed 20 runs, and while he tried to build-up a strong partnership with former Indian skipper Dhoni but failed to do. Pandya revealed the talk which he had with the wicketkeeper-batsman.

"The conversation (with Dhoni) was simple. The power which we both have, we can chase any total - it's just that we got to stay there. You can't win a game sitting outside, it's very important that you take the game deep and make sure that you read the situation. We were doing pretty fine but as I said, it was unfortunate that I shuffled a lot and I got out.”

"Things were going pretty right. When I got out it was 29-ball 31 runs, which on any given day we'll take it. It was just one of those games where it didn't click and it didn't turn out to be our game. I felt that things were pretty alright. We're just going to be fearless and express ourselves (in the fifth ODI). Eventually, when you express yourself you play your best cricket," said Pandya.

Apart from the West Indies tour, the 23-year-old showed his all-round performance in the ICC Champions Trophy tournament. In the final game of the Champions Trophy which was concluded last month, India failed to defend their title as they lost the game against Pakistan. In that encounter, Pandya was the last hope for Indian fans as he contributed 76 runs before suffering a terrible run-out thanks to Ravindra Jadeja.

I'm going to make sure that I finish the games, says Hardik Pandya

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