Page 41 - The Indian EYE 072922

SPORTS JULY 29, 2022 | The Indian Eye 41

Virat Kohli fails once more time during the England series Shubman Gill bats in a Test during the recent England series

with the thought that you might be has arrived,” he added. LENDL SIMMONS CALLS IT and to keep on believing in yourselves
able to bring him back towards the “Yes, just hoping that Hardik can QUITS and your abilities,” said Simmons in
back end and have him peak. Tourna- keep his fitness together. No issues his statement.
ment play isn’t like that,” he added. with Rishabh Pant. What we saw in est Indies opening batter “My family and friends are my
PANDYA IS A COMPLETELY that last one day, I was completely Lendl Simmons announced true motivators as they kept me in-
CHANGED GUY: MANJREKAR floored by the sheer talent and abili- Whis retirement from inter- spired for so long. Now, I have the time
ty of these two guys, temperament as national cricket on Monday. to be one cheering them on the side-
ormer India cricketer Sanjay well, built a long partnership and how Taking to Twitter, the Windies lines. I really hope that I represented
Manjrekar said that Hardik easily, in the end, India won. Thanks cricketer, who last played an interna- them well because I did it for them.
FPandya has diversified himself to Rishabh Pant for staying there till tional game in October 2021 against There were times when the odds were
more than a hard-hitting batter and the end. So yes, high-quality batters, South Africa, issued a statement an- against me, but you stood tall along-
he is now a ‘completely changed guy’. and they’re going to be batting mostly nouncing his retirement. “When I side me. Of course, the FANS, when-
A blistering century by Rishabh at number 4 and 5 whether it’s T20 wore the Maroon Colours of the West ever we meet in person, cheering on in
Pant followed by Hardik Pandya’s fif- Cricket or 50 overs cricket or Pant Indies Cricket for the first time on de- the stands or messages on social me-
ty guided Team India to a five-wicket could be opening as well. In 2019, we but in ODIs on December 7th, 2006, dia...Despite the ups and downs, you
victory over England in the series de- had a lot of issues finding a proper little did I know that my international all gave me the energy that was need-
cider of the three-match series here middle order but now we have some career would have lasted 16 years but ed to bat on for so long,” he added.
at Manchester on Sunday. With the quality supply,” he said. my passion and love for the sport fu- Simmons advised the youngsters
win, India clinched the ODI series Manjrekar said that Pant may elled me every day. I am closing this not to be ashamed of dreaming big,
2-1 against England. seem irresponsible sometimes when chapter of International Cricket hav- saying that it takes a lot of determi-
In the last ODI against England he gets out to bat but he is incredible ing played 144 matches and scoring nation, focus and a strong mind to get
Pandya smashed 71 runs in 55 deliv- because of the kind of record he has 3,763 runs from all formats. I wish the over the numerous hurdles, but it is all
eries while picking four wickets con- in test cricket. new crop of WI players all the best worth it in the end.
ceding just 24 runs. “Cricket allowed me to travel the
Speaking on SPORTS18’s show world, meet great people and expe-
‘SPORTS OVER THE TOP’, former rience different cultures leaving un-
India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar countable and meaningful memories.
said, “Absolutely, Hardik Pandya is I never cheated the game; I gave it 100
a completely changed guy. First of per cent of hard work and that is why
all, picking him as one of their first I was able to play Internationally for
players, before that his fitness was a almost 16 years,” he continued.
problem, and his batting was an issue “I still do extensive training and
for the earlier franchise. Not only did keep myself relatively fit, so my focus
they pick him, and back him as one of is to continue playing franchise cricket
their marquee players they gave him for as long as my body permits. Hope-
the captaincy.” fully, I can continue to entertain the
“Just the way the league turned people of my region and all over the
out for him. Hardik Pandya is a world for a few more years as I am still
changed man now, there’s a lot of timing the ball beautifully and beating
maturity, responsibility and ambition bowling,” he concluded. He leaves this
as well. I see a sense of ambition com- sport as a player as a part of the West
ing into him. And once you have that, Indies team that won the ICC World
wanting to grow within Indian Crick- T20 title in 2012 and 2016. His knock
et then there’s tremendous motiva- of 82* against India in the semi-finals
tion. He’s also addressing himself in Lendl Simmons of the 2016 edition of the event is one
the third person now. Hardik Pandya of the major highlights of his career.

www.TheIndianEYE.com