If you respect the game, it will reward you, says Virat Kohli on Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya returned to the Indian team after close to four months. He was in the news for all the wrong reasons over the last month for his controversial remarks against women in the talk show Koffee with Karan. But, on returning to the field, the all-rounder made sure that he was back to his best which has impressed the skipper Virat Kohli.

Hardik took an exceptional catch to dismiss Kane Williamson first and then bowled a wonderful spell with the ball to keep the scoring in check. His figures of 2/45 allowed the captain to rotate his main bowlers and Kohli highlighted the balance Pandya brings to the team in the press conference. However, he also felt that the controversy will make him a better cricketer now while also suggesting that one should respect the game always.

“Hardik provides balance to the team. Today too he bowled good areas which showed he has worked on his skills. If you respect the game, it will reward you back. I hope and believe that Hardik will come out as a better cricketer,” Kohli said.

Good to have him back

Virat Kohli had distanced himself and the team from Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul when their misogynist comments were out in the public. But the 30-year-old conceded that Pandya’s return has solved many problems and threw light on how he always wants to contribute to the team’s cause.

“Good to have him back. He put his head down and focused on what he needed to do, you can tell from the way he bowled. He is someone who will make an important contribution overall. He is someone who provides a lot of balance to the team,” the Indian captain who scored 60 in the 244-run chase added.

The upcoming few matches are going to be crucial for the fast bowling all-rounder as the Supreme Court is set to appoint the Ombudsman soon to investigate the controversy in Koffee with Karan.

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