Hardik Pandya in action during the India vs England series. (BCCI)
Jemimah Rodrigues made for an engaging quizmaster when she asked Hardik Pandya about what made him such a fine finisher with the bat. In a friendly chat on the stage at the BCCI awards function in Mumbai, Jemi as she marched s known, asked Pandya about his ‘ice cool composure.’
“You need to be prepared to stay cool in the match. I’ve always played a match before the match in preparation,” Pandya would explain his build up. “That’s helped me focus on the right things which eventually meant I let my body react how it should, at that point of time. I back my instinct, back myself. And see how it goes,” he would say.
With India’s top men’s and women’s stars trading secrets on stage, Pandya also offered an insight into some pet peeves. Traffic, Jemi asked. “It’s depending on where in Mumbai we travel. If traffic is there we can’t do anything. Unfortunately. You just sit there and try to make sure you find some timepass. But sometimes I do get angry when driving. Traffic can make me little nervy,” he would accept.
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The young father was then asked if it was easier changing diapers or tonking sixes on the ground. “Changing diapers is tougher. Always gonna be difficult. Bowling, you practice for so many years. You know sport, playing throughout your life. But dad is something which is 4 years old only. Always will be challenging. I enjoy it,” he would say.
However, it was on his Power hitting that Pandya offered some steps he undertook in his journey. “Power hitting – I really had the kick in me where I wanted to hit sixes. Though I didn’t have power. Over the years as I got stronger and fitter I could see the results which I had worked on in early days. I put in the hard yards and God was on my side and helped me to get power hitting ability,” he would say.
He would leave the audience with a pointer to his pragmatic approach where he tempers the itch to bludgeon, with the responsibility of seeing the team home.
“But sometimes you have to control it. Can’t go overboard,” he would family add.
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