Hardik Pandya is potentially the pace bowling all-rounder India has craved since Kapil Dev retired.
He is hot on the heels of Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni in the popularity stakes after a string of high voltage performances – with bat and ball, that has made him a big hit among Bollywood celebrities as well.
In a recent exchange with media, the Baroda lad asserted that it is the challenges against formidable opponents which gets him enthusiastic.
He believes to remain in the present and is excited about the assigned role provided to him by the management. Preparation for the matches remains the key for Pandya and doesn’t perturb him about not being able to do well everytime steps on the field.
“I just want to take it day by day. I want to live in the present. I do get excited by a few series like South Africa and New Zealand. I like to play big teams. I’m pretty excited about the role I have. I might not do well, but that’s part and parcel of the game. It’s important to get things right before a game. If I prepare well, I don’t think anything will stop me,” claimed Hardik according to his interview with Hindu.
“If I achieve even 10 percent of what Kapil Dev has in his life, it would be a huge achievement”, added Pandya.
Hardik was recently adjudged as the man of the series for his all-round performance throughout the series against Australia. In fact, he was awarded a couple of man of the match awards for his performances in the ODIs in Chennai and Indore.
“I don’t think much about it. For me, it won’t change. My approach will be the same as it has been for a series in India. It (the challenges) might be difficult, but obviously difficult things are nice. When you overcome difficult things, the happiness and the confidence you get is nice, so I look at it in the same way,” Pandya claimed.
“The tag that they have, they deserve it. Let me play as Hardik Pandya. Simple as that,” stated Pandya when asked about how he feels being compared to Kapil Dev.
