Hardik Pandya will lead Men in Blue in the upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka, which starts in Mumbai on Wednesday.
Hardik Pandya has been phenomenal in his whiteball cricket since returning from his injury. The all-rounder has also played a key role at the international level, leading his Titans to Indian premier league glory in his debut season in Gujarat.
Pandya was instrumental in India’s two wins over Pakistan in 2021. He stood firmly in the middle, first at the Asian Cup and second at the T20 World Cup, leading India to a thrilling win alongside Virat Kohli. Pandya will lead Men in Blue in the upcoming T20Is against Sri Lanka, which starts in Mumbai on Wednesday. His record as captain of India was also good, as he led the team to a 1-0 win over New Zealand in his T20I series, which was held just after the World T20 in Australia.
Despite his stellar resume, when asked what Pandya was looking forward to next, the all-rounder gave a great answer. Speaking to the media ahead of his first T20I, his Pandya said:
“A year ago, everything was very different. Leaving the sport was my call to make time and do better, and it was a magical year for me. Of course, I would have preferred the World Cup, but that’s part of it.
“We tried, but it didn’t happen. But when we move forward, ‘What do I want to achieve?’ I’m looking forward to the next World Cup, there are several World Championships in the next few years and my goal is to win them.”
Pandya remains a key figure in the Limited Over setup, but it’s been over four years since he last appeared on his Test. In fact, the all-rounder has only appeared in 11 Tests so far, and his fans definitely want him to wear white again. To the question on the same line, Pandya replied:
“‘When am I going to wear a white coat?’ Let’s talk all blue first, then white.”
When asked about her New Year’s resolutions, Pandya immediately pointed to the upcoming World Cup, calling it her “biggest” goal for 2023.
“Winning the World Cup is the best thing and I don’t think there is a better decision. I think it’s going well,” said the India national team’s assistant skipper.