"I have learnt a lot from Mahi Bhai": Hardik Pandya reveals how Dhoni helped him grow as a Cricketer
Xtra Time Web Desk: Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya who made his international debut in January 2016, revealed how MS Dhoni had helped him grow as cricketer and learn from his own mistakes during the early part of his international career. Pandya said in the initial days of his career, he wondered why Dhoni didn't instruct him how to bowl, later on realised it was the former India captain’s way of letting him learn from his own mistakes.
"Obviously, I have learned a lot from everyone, especially Mahi bhai. When I went there I was a raw material. They way he groomed me, he wanted me to make my own mistakes and learn," Pandya said on Back Stage With Boria.
Pandya shared that almost every cricketer who has made it to the Indian team from the domestic setup had undergone through the guidance of a senior player who helps them out in every match of first class career.
Pandya was took by surprise when he made his first debut in the international cricket. He thought a senior player like Dhoni would help him guide through his bowling.
"Not many people know that in first-class cricket, you generally have a senior player who guides you in all the matches," Pandya said. “I think 99.9 per cent of those who have come up to the Indian team have been from that sort of culture."
He continued, “When I came there (India debut), I was like MS Dhoni is there, so everything will be looked after. (But) I was like why Mahi bhai is not saying a lot, not telling me where to bowl. But later on, I realised that he actually wanted me to learn on my own so that I can survive. That point of time I didn’t realise because I was on back foot."
He futher said, "In my debut, I gave 24-25 runs (19 runs) and post that I genuinely thought this is my first and last game (for India). But then he (Dhoni) called me for a second over. I was fielding at extra cover and looked behind before confirming if it’s (actually) me (he was asking for).
"He (Dhoni) never showed that he’s there. He wanted me to be rough, to be learning everything on my own but I knew he was always standing behind me," Pandya added.
