Page 45 - The Indian EYE 121021

SpORTS DECEMBER 10, 2021 | The Indian Eye 45

Indian Skipper Virat Kohli during a practice session ahead of the 2nd test match between India Ajinkya Rahane during a practice session ahead of the 2nd test match between India and New
and New Zealand at Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai on Thursday. (ANI Photo) Zealand at Wankhede stadium, in Mumbai on Thursday. (ANI Photo)

an ANI query during a virtual press not because of my concentration, I
conference. have been unlucky sometimes or just
“The more cricket you play, the not been able to convert those. I feel
more you understand your game bet- converting hundreds into big ones is ac-
ter. It is about getting into the mind- tually one of my strengths,” he added.
set, that headspace where you want
to play a certain way in a certain for- Hardik Pandya is
mat,” he added. released by mi
With Shreyas Iyer becoming the
first Indian debutant to score a cen- ndia all-rounder Hardik Pandya
tury and half-century in his debut expressed his gratitude towards
Test, dropping him would be a lit- Ithe Indian Premier League (IPL)
tle difficult and with the poor form franchise Mumbai Indians (MI) after
of Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar he was released ahead of the mega
Pujara, the choice has been made all IPL auction.
the more difficult on who should go The window for the franchises to
out of the XI to make way for Kohli. retain players for the IPL 2022 sea-
“You have to understand the sit- son closed on Tuesday. Mumbai In-
uation of where the team is placed, dian retained Rohit Sharma, Jasprit
you have to understand where indi- Bumrah, Kieron Pollard, Suryakumar
viduals stand. Indian team’s physiotherapist Nitin Patel tends to a finger injury of Ishant Sharma on Day-5 of Yadav. Hardik posted a video on his
You have to communicate well, Instagram, cherishing all his memo-
speak to the individuals and ap- the 1st Test match between India and New Zealand, at Green Park International Stadium, in ries and time spent with the franchise.
proach them in a way, explain things Kanpur on Monday. (ANI Photo) “I’ll carry these memories with
clearly. We have made changes in me for the rest of my life, I’ll carry
the past looking at combination, we these moments with me for the rest
have explained to individuals and have done the job for the team,” he it was an opportunity for me to go of my life. The friendships I’ve made,
they have understood our mindset added. big but unfortunately I missed out on the bonds that have been formed, the
behind going in with certain combi- this. There wasn’t much in it for the people, the fans, I’ll always be grate-
nation,” said Kohli. Shubman gill pacers but there was something for ful. I’ve grown not just as a player but
“It is not a difficult thing to do, wants to score big the spinners. The odd ball was turn- as a person. I came here as a young-
there is collective trust and belief ing and gripping initially but as the ster with big dreams - we won togeth-
within the group. Along the way, ndian batter Shubman Gill feels match went on, the wicket settled a er, we lost together, we fought togeth-
there are ups and downs, but we un- converting hundred into big bit,” Gill told hosts’ broadcaster after er. Every moment with this team has
derstand that as sportspersons. Iscores is his strength in the longest the end of day one of the second Test. a special place in my heart. They say
At the end of the day, we all format of the game but admitted that “It’s important to play the line of all good things must end but @mum-
prioritize the team first and this is he hasn’t been able to play to his full the ball, if it’s spinning you don’t go baiindians will remain in my heart
something we have done consistent- potential in the recent few innings. with the spin, it’s important to play forever,” Hardik captioned the post.
ly. As a Test team, we have backed Gill scored 44 off 71 balls and was the line. If it spins too much, you just With a total salary cap of INR 90
the set of players who have done the the first one to fall as India lost a wick- hope that it doesn’t take your outside crore available at the mega auction
job for the team in the last 5-6 years et at 80 in the 28th over. The opening edge and you try not to get lbw espe- for each team, the eight franchises
and we will continue to do that. batter said he has been unlucky some- cially against to left-arm spinners. were eligible to retain up to 4 players
There have always been players times in scoring big runs for India in “Unfortunately, I haven’t got a with a maximum of 3 Indians, 2 over-
on who we have relied upon and they Test matches. “I was batting well and hundred yet in these 10 matches. It’s seas players and 2 uncapped Indians.

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