Hardik Pandya, who will be captaining India in the upcoming T20 series against Sri Lanka said that his biggest New Year’s resolution was to win the ODI World Cup later this year.
“The biggest is to win the World Cup. I don’t think any bigger resolution can be there. Really want to win the World Cup, which we will try to do everything possible in our capacity… to go out there and give everything. I think things are looking bright and let’s hope it is,” Pandya said on the eve of three-match series against Sri Lanka.
Talking about India’s drought in the ICC tournaments, the latest being the 2022 T20 World Cup, Hardik said that he felt that the template before the tournament and the template adopted during the tournament were vastly different, which may have been detrimental in the long run.
“Before the World Cup, I don’t think we did anything wrong. Our template, our approach, our everything was the same. Just that in the World Cup, things did not go the way we wanted and I think our approach was not exactly what it was before the World Cup,” Hardik said.
The captain also assured that each player in the squad would get ample opportunities and asked them to go express themselves in the Sri Lanka series.
“What we have noticed and what we have told the boys is that just go out there and express yourself, which they will do and it’s up to us how we back them. We have said it we will back you to the core. All the players have that support from my side that I will back them to the core. I have to make them believe that,” the all-rounder said.
“We are looking to play in a certain way which we will. Before the IPL, only six games are there. So we don’t have much time to do a lot of things. But, going forward, we will keep creating new plans and see which plans are sticking and which are working for us. And, going forward, make sure that everyone gets ample opportunities,” he added.
A serious prospect like Umran Malik would certainly get his share of chances.
“Obviously, he (Umran) has pace. Everyone knows how much of an exciting prospect he is. We will give him enough opportunities, give him enough backing and support from our side so that he can flourish.” India’s bowling in T20Is has been a problem since Jasprit Bumrah’s injury and skipper’s mantra is simple.
Responding to a question where he was asked when he’ll be seen in the Test matches, Hardik said, ‘When will I be seen in whites?’ Let me be fully be in Blue first and then I’ll say about the whites.”
Last one year has been magical
For Hardik, each and every accomplishment of his is due to the enormous hardwork he has put in and that resulted in a great 2022 for him in T20 Internationals.
“Obviously one year back, things were quite different. When I went out of the sport (because of lower back stress fracture), that was my call to go out and spend time and get better at it.
“It has been a magical year for me, obviously (I) would have liked the World Cup to come with it. But that is part and parcel of life. We tried but it did not happen, but going forward what is next and what I want to achieve, there is a lot to achieve. I have not achieved anything.” Quiz him on managing his bowling workload, Hardik says the only “language” he knows is “language of hardwork”.
“See, I know the language of hard work. I don’t think I have known any other language in my life. I have been thrown here and there, the only thing that has got me back is my hard work. How I manage it is through my hard work.
“I believe in my processes, which have got me here and I am sitting here. So going forward as well, the only thing which I’m going to focus on is to make sure that I should give my body ample chance to be out there and be at my best,” he concluded.
(With PTI Inputs)