Page 39 - The Indian EYE 021023

SPORTS FEBRUARY 10, 2023 | The Indian Eye 39

Hardik looks to emulate

MS Dhoni’s role in white-ball

setup as Virat hails Gill

India thumps New Zealand by 168 runs - the biggest win by a Full Member against another

in the men’s T20I. Team India clinched the three-match T20I series 2-1

OUR BUREAU dia scheduled for October-Novem-
ber this year and a T20 World Cup
Ahmedabad/Lucknow
in the Caribbean scheduled for 2024,
ardik Pandya has stated that India’s stand-in T20I captain Hardik
he would gladly play the has prioritised white-ball cricket over
Hrole of former captain MS Test cricket.
Dhoni in India’s white-ball setup, Shubman Gill’s unbeaten 126
being one of the experienced play- followed by an all-round perfor-
ers in the team. mance from captain Hardik Pandya
The all-rounder mentioned that helped India bundle out New Zea-
he is open to taking new roles in the land for 66 to register a mammoth
team and would not mind emulating 168-run victory over Blackcaps in
Dhoni’s role of being India’s main- the third and final T20I of the three-
stay with the bat while speaking at match series.
a press conference after the team’s India thumped New Zealand
mammoth 168-run victory against by 168 runs - the biggest win by a
New Zealand in Ahmedabad at Full Member against another in the
the Narendra Modi Stadium on men’s T20I. With this win, Team In-
Wednesday. dia clinched the three-match T20I
“In that way, maybe I have to series 2-1.
get my strike rate down. Taking new Daryl Mitchell was the top scor-
opportunities or taking new roles is er for New Zealand with 35 in 25 de-
something I’ve always looked forward liveries. While India captain Pandya
to. I don’t mind coming in and play- starred with both bat and ball as he
ing the role which somewhere down scored a crucial 30 off 17 and scalped
the line Maahi [MS Dhoni] used to 4 wickets conceding just 16 runs in
play. I think at that time, I was young, his spell of 4 overs.
and I was hitting all around the park, Later, India’s star batter Virat
but now since he has gone, all of a Kohli reacted to young batting sen-
sudden that responsibility. It has nat- sation Shubhman Gill’s maiden T20I
urally come to me, and I don’t mind hundred against New Zealand on
[doing it]. We’re getting the result we Wednesday and touted him as a fu-
want and it’s okay,” stated Pandya. ture superstar, calling him a ‘Sitaara’.
The Gujarat Titans skipper ex- Sharing a message for the India
pressed that he relishes hitting sixes opener on his Instagram, Virat said,
but wants to provide the team with a “Sitaara (Star). The future is here”.
sense of calm and assurance as play- Suryakumar Yadav and skipper Hardik Pandya celebrate after winning the 2nd T20I match Previously, the highest score in
ing attacking shots involves an ele- against New Zealand by 6 wickets at Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow (ANI) T20I by an Indian batter was by Virat
ment of risk. Kohli, who had smashed 122* against
He further stated that being a believed in partnerships. I want to pressure and make sure the team and Afghanistan during the Asia Cup last
senior in the team he has undergone give my team and the other person everything are calm,” explained the year in September. At the age of 23
pressure situations numerous times more calmness and the assurance right-arm pacer. years and 146 days, Gill is the young-
and has developed the ability to soak that at least I’m there. I’ve played Hardik hasn’t played red-ball est batter to have a century in each
in the pressure and keep cool in more games than any of those guys cricket at the senior level since un- format of the sport.
crunch situations. out there. So, I’ve known the expe- dergoing back surgery in 2019. His He is also the fifth batter to have
“See, to be honest, I’ve always rience and more than the experience last Test was in Southampton in 2018, centuries for India in all formats of
enjoyed hitting sixes, but I have to part, it’s where I’ve batted, and I’ve and he also played in the Ranji Tro- the game. Four other such batters
evolve and that is life. I have to take learnt how to accept pressure and phy that year. are Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, KL
the other part where I’ve always I’ve learnt how to swallow kind of the With an ODI World Cup in In- Rahul and Virat Kohli.

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