Hardik Pandya credits Ponting and Tendulkar for helping him

22-year-old Hardik Pandya made his mark on international cricket with impressive performances with the ball. Although he didn’t get a chance to bat, Pandya caught the eye of many. However, when asked about his participation, the humble Hardik Pandya thanked the two men who shaped him as a batting all-rounder.

“We did specific drills. He (Ponting) explained the pull shot, upper cut, square cut, the hook. Take the example of the pull, (he said). He asked me to pull the ball, after which he told me I was bending my leg too much and that in that position I could not pull properly. He told me my leg should be straight.”

“The way you are playing, in one and a half years you are going to play for India. That capability you have. I was like, whoa! That time I did not know I was going to play for India in seven to eight months. But when Sachin Tendulkar tells you that, I cannot describe what it felt like. You can play shots, so you can take time.” Right now I am doing the same thing. I am not hitting sixes from the first ball. I am taking a good 15 balls before going for the big sixes. He used to tell me during the IPL that I can take time and cover up later.”

Pandya, who shot to fame in the IPL with the Mumbai Indians seems to have finally got his opportunity on the international stage. “I used to hear that after an IPL season a youngster can grow. That happened to me,” he added.

The story of Hardik Pandya is one of a fairytale. Just a few years back, Pandya’s financial condition was so bad that he couldn’t afford to buy a cricket bat. “I used to borrow bats till two years ago. I did not have the money,” Pandya said. “I did not have a bat to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy before last year. I called Irfan bhai [Irfan Pathan] and he gave me two bats. Then last year I got a bat sponsor.”

“Till then I was playing with whatever I had. You won’t believe but I used to make my bats last for at least two years, strapping them several times. “There was no name for the tournament. It was just between villages. I would play for teams like Jhambuja XI. What was the fascination? Rs 400. My brother used to get Rs 500. For a week, at least, life would be normal,” he said.