Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya who played a key role in India’s series win over England credited Rohit Sharma for the team’s comprehensive win to clinch the T20 series against England. The Baroda all-rounder said it was a special innings from the stylish batsman after two ordinary outings.
Rohit struck his 3rd T20 hundred, becoming the first batsman in the world to achieve the feat that helped India seal the series 2-1.
“Rohit played amazingly well. He was outstanding and played a fantastic hand. He won the game single-handedly for us. We expect that from him. I haven’t seen anyone hit the ball as hard as Rohit,” Pandya said at the post match press conference.
“Not having two good games and then coming back to play such an innings, that is special. It shows the confidence players have in this team, in themselves. It all comes down to the support staff. They have been great,” he added.
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On a batting friendly wicket at Bristol Rohit took the attack to the opposition, who was well supported by Pandya who played a quick fire innings of 33 from 14 balls. The 24-year-old year all-rounder also picked 4 crucial wickets.
However, Pandya hadn’t had a good outing with the ball in the first over, when he went for 22 runs.
“To be honest, I see the T20 format as a funny game. You need to back yourself and bowl your best balls. I still remember after getting hit for 22, I was still normal. If you come and bowl the right lengths, and take wickets on this kind of pitch, eventually you will stop runs,” Pandya said.
“My focus was to make sure that I bowled different balls rather than just bowling yorkers because bowling length was the key. With the shortest boundaries on the straight, I kind of mixed things.”
Pandya said every game teaches him a new cricketing lesson.
“I am learning. I am always learning in the game. I’ve made sure that I keep on learning from my mistakes. With every game, something or the other I am learning, which is helping my game,” he said.
“When I was young, I have batted at number three. So for me any situation I go in, I play according to that. It doesn’t matter if I hit 13-ball 30 or 25-ball 25, depending on the situation I play accordingly.“
