Kolkata , December 24 : There were a few eyebrows raised when Hardik Pandya was bought by Mumbai Indians last season . It turned out to be an inspired buy for the IPL champions . Pandya first burst on to the scene with some stellar performances for Mumbai Indians , including a couple of match-winning innings with the bat against now defunct Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knoght Riders in IPL 8. He has been rewarded with a place in the Indian Twenty20 (T20) team which will tour Australia in January. On being asked whether he was expecting this call-up in the national team , the all rounder from Baroda sounded confidence ,“ I had a brilliant IPL season , whatever opportunities I got . I also had a good domestic season . Did well in the Tri Nation series involving the A teams of India ,South Africa and Australia . But really speaking , I did not expected the call so early in my career .”
Pandya is quite confident of doing well Down Under ,“The pitches there suit my style of cricket. I would enjoy bowling on the hard, quick pitches and the good length that I bowl will cause problems for batsmen. I will also enjoy batting there because the ball comes on nicely and I am good at facing short balls too.”
The 22 year old Hardik have his senior team mate in Baroda Irfan Pathan as his mentor “I am privileged to have somebody like him in my life,” says Pandya. “I remember when he came back from a Champions Trophy and was playing a league match in Baroda. I was visualizing how to play a pull shot on his short ball and he somehow got a little offended. My brother was umpiring in that match and Irfan asked him who I was trying to impress. Then, I hit him for 24 runs in one over. He was hugely impressed.”
A product of former India wicket keeper and selector Kiran More’s academy , Pandya , did not prolong his academic career trying to focus more on his cricket . He first came into limelight playing a list A match for Baroda last year . Former Indian coach, John Wright was extremely impressed to see him score 82 runs off 57 balls against a Mumbai Indians attack that had Zaheer Khan and Dhawal Kulkarni . Wright, who was coach of Mumbai Indians at the time, did not waste any time to call him for trials for the IPL team.
So far, in a first-class career which is barely two seasons old, Pandya’s statistics are mediocre . In 13 first-class matches, his batting average is 27, with no centuries; and he has picked up 17 wickets. In the 28 T20 matches he has played (average 26.47, strike rate 122.68 and 17 wickets), he has shown enough spark for the selectors to pick him . Pandya have so far batted at all positions from No 3 to No 7 . But he wants to to cement his place at No 7 slot in the Indian team . “Look , personally I would prefer to bat at No 7 . I want to be a bowling all rounder who can chip in with some quick runs . With my decent pace and batting abilities, I can be the perfect No. 7 that India are looking for. That is the reason why I insisted on becoming an all-rounder, rather than a batsman who can bowl a bit,” ”
Both Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting have been a huge influence in his cricket . Pandya would want to seek Ponting’s help in his preparation for the Australian tour. “ He used to give me throwdowns for hours at the Mumbai Indians nets . I am regularly in touch with Ricky and now that I am going to Australia, I will call him up and ask him how I should prepare for those conditions and pitches.” “And talking about Sachin Sir , he used to regularly give me tips at the MI nets . He used to stand at the nets closely watching me bat at the nets . I really owe a lot to both of them in shaping my career .”
Lastly , Pandya do want him to be remembered as 3 match wonder . He has his goals set , to go on to play for India for a long time . And that speak volumes about the confidence of the young man who will be embarking on his first tour Down Under .