My back is fine but won't be able to bowl for now: Hardik Pandya

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has stated that he will be able to resume bowling closer to the knockout stages, with his back needing slightly more to allow him to perform his all-round duties. Pandya’s comments came ahead of his team’s clash against Pakistan on October 24 in Dubai.

“The back is fine, it was jittery, but I won’t be bowling for now. I want to be able to bowl eventually, closer to the knockouts. The professionals and I both have to take the call about when I can have a bowl,” Hardik Pandya told the broadcasters.

Pandya admitted that he avoids using social media before any high-profile clash like that against Pakistan to avoid any kind of distraction. “I don’t like to get too hyped by the situation, and my family make sure of that too. I stay away from social media because you do get excited and get the vibes.

“It’s simple, and we leave emotions out of the way, and keep things professional. We make sure we tick the right boxes, and do the processes right,” Pandya added.

What Hardik Pandya brings at No. 6 can’t be created overnight: Virat Kohli

On the eve of the historic clash, Indian skipper Virat Kohli backed Pandya to play in the team as a pure batter, highlighting that what he brings at his position as a specialist batter cannot be created overnight.

“Honestly, I feel that Hardik presently with his physical condition is getting better in terms of being prepared to bowl at least two overs for us at a certain stage in this tournament,” Kohli said.

“We strongly feel that we can make the most of the opportunity at hand till the time he starts bowling, we’ve considered a couple of other options to chip in for an over or two. So, we’re not bothered about that at all. What he brings at that No.6 spot is something you cannot create overnight.”

I was always in favour of backing him in Australia as a batter purely, and we saw what he did in the T20 series and how he can take the game away from the opposition when he is in full flow,” he added.