‘You feel good about it’ - India skipper Hardik Pandya reacts to Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri's T20I captaincy remark

Hardik Pandya-led team India registered a series win against hosts New Zealand following a rain-hit tie in the third and final T20I match. Hardik took over the leadership role as the stand-in captain after Rohit Sharma was rested post the T20 World Cup.

Many members of the cricketing fraternity especially legends and 1983 World Cup winners Sunil Gavaskar and Ravi Shastri have opined that India must follow the template of having different skippers across the three formats. They further stated that Hardik Pandya would be the ideal candidate to takeover the role in the T20I format upon which the stand-in skipper was elated by the remarks.

"Koi agar bol raha hai toh accha feel hota hai (If people are saying, you feel good about it) but till something happens officially, you can't say. To be honest, my thing is simple, if I do one match or one series, I will lead the team my way, how I see and perceive the game,” Pandya said in the post-match press conference following the series win.

“Whenever I am given the opportunity, I will always go out and play the brand of cricket I know. As a unit, we will display my brand. As far as whatever (captaincy) comes in future, we will see," added Pandya.

I don't believe in chop and change in a short series: Hardik Pandya

Of the new additions in the squad for the series, many of the players were keen to make a mark for the national side but were forced to sit on the sidelines due to the rain playing a key role. Hardik further suggested that there is time for players to get their opportunities.

"Had it been a bigger series and not three games, we could have played them. But I don't believe in chop and change in a short series and going forward also that will be my philosophy. If players are feeling bad, they can come and speak to me or the coach. Going forward, if I remain the captain, I don't think that will be an issue. My behaviour and nature ensures that we are a close-knit unit,” he added.