Hardik Pandya is happy to don MS Dhoni's role for Team India
Hardik Pandya wants to play like MS Dhoni as the former Indian cricketer batted down the order for his team and is known for finishing games by coming down the order.
India and New Zealand squared off with each other on February 1, Wednesday, where the Hardik Pandya-led side defeated the visitors and sealed the series by 2-1.
During the game, the Baroda all-rounder smashed 30 runs from 17 balls with the help of 4 fours and a six to his name. Following that, Hardik Pandya also did a great job with the ball as he scalped 4 wickets while conceding just 16 runs in his spell.
On the other side, Shubman Gill was looked in red-hot form during the game as he slammed an unbeaten 126 runs that consists of 12 fours and 7 sixes. Rahul Tripathi who had a poor outing with the bat has regained his momentum in the decider game, smashing 44 off just 22 balls for his team.
It has just naturally come to me: Hardik Pandya
After winning the game, Hardik Pandya shared his thoughts about his performance and said, "See, to be honest, I've always enjoyed hitting sixes, but I have to evolve and that is life.
"I have to take the other part where I've always believed in partnerships. I want to give my team and the other person more calmness and the assurance that at least I'm there. I've played more games than any of those guys out there.
So, I've known the experience and more than the experience part, it's where I've batted, and I've learnt how to accept pressure and I've learnt how to kind of swallow the pressure and kind of make sure the team and everything is calm," Hardik Pandya was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz.
The right-handed all-rounder also shared that he changed his way of play like MS Dhoni as he often used to smash over the boundaries under his leadership.
"In that way, maybe I have to get my strike rate down or... Taking new opportunities or taking new roles is (something) I've always looked forward to. I don't mind coming in and playing the role which somewhere down the line Mahi (MS Dhoni) used to play.
I think at that time, I was young, and I was hitting all around the park, but now since he has gone, all of a sudden that responsibility... It has just naturally come to me, and I don't mind (doing it). We're getting the result we want and it's okay," he added.