(IANS Photo)
Hardik Pandya, the prominent all-rounder for Team India, has expressed strong confidence in the bowling unit led by Jasprit Bumrah to perform admirably in the T20 World Cup. He attributes this belief to the collective experience, intensity, and integrity within the core group of bowlers.
On Wednesday, India commenced their campaign with an impressive eight-wicket win over Ireland, navigating a drop-in pitch characterized by unpredictable bounce and additional seam movement.
“We were told today that within the group we have 892 T20 games, that’s a lot of games.
“So we have a lot of experience, especially in bowling where we have someone like Jasprit Bumrah, who is the number one bowler by far. We have Siraj, who has been tremendous in recent years,” Hardik said during a chat with the BCCI.TV.
“We have Arshdeep, who has played the last two World Cups and has been quite fantastic and making sure that he keeps getting better.
“There is a lot of experience, lot of honesty within the bowling core group, and the wicket has also helped a lot today ,” he added.
The all-rounder specializing in seam bowling expressed the team’s delight in kicking off the tournament with a positive start.
“We are very happy and very pleased to the kind of start on a good note. It’s very, very important for the rhythm because once the tournament has started, it goes on,” Hardik said.
“It feels very good when you work hard and kind of get some success, and at the same point of time, it’s quite exciting to play here .”
“Everything falls into place for people who work hard. And go and spend a lot of time within yourself, identify who you are, back yourself because you know, Hardik at 30 is a much easier job at Hardik at 60,” he said.
Following the match, the team’s batting coach, Vikram Rathour, stated that Hardik Pandya was prepared to bowl his full quota of four overs per match. The 30-year-old all-rounder, who has faced persistent injuries in recent times, affirmed his focus on the task ahead.
“From those days, these days are much, much better, try to find out what exactly are you are trying to figure it out in your skill sets especially. That’s why I just went, bowled a lot of overs, batted a lot of balls, so in that scenario you realise your potential slowly, and that was my focus,” Hardik said.
He eagerly anticipated India’s high-profile match against Pakistan on Sunday.
“India-Pakistan has always been very exciting, lot of cheer and buzz, a lot of emotion and a lot of excitement but at the same time, I hope we will be disciplined in that game, one goal as a group is we go and kind of hunt.
“So, if we can do that, I think it will be a one more nice day for us,” Hardik said.
