Was stretchered off against same opponent in 2018, journey from there has been beautiful: Hardik Pandya

Team India completed an emphatic victory over Pakistan in their tournament opener of the 2022 T20 Asia Cup played at the Dubai International Stadium on August 28 (Sunday). Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya gave a resounding performance with both bat and ball and was rightly adjudged player of the match for his crucial performance.

The senior Indian player recalled his lean phase during 2018 and said that his journey has been beautiful. To note, Hardik had to be taken off the field against during the Pakistan clash in 2018 Asia Cup, but the star all-rounder has now made a resounding comeback in his career.

I was thinking that seven runs in the final over is not that steep a challenge: Hardik Pandya

“I was remembering it all. I was stretchered off at the same venue against the same opponent in the 2018 Asia Cup. You feel a sense of achievement because of the things that have happened in the past, today I got an opportunity. The journey is beautiful. The fruits of our journey come to us, but behind the scenes, a lot of people do not get credit who walk along with us,” Hardik said in an interview with Ravindra Jadeja in a video uploaded by BCCI.

“I was thinking that seven runs in the final over is not that steep a challenge. The left-arm spinner was bowling and there were five fielders inside the ring. This all did not matter to me, even if there were 10 fielders standing at the boundary, it would not have mattered as I had to hit a big shot. In the entire innings, I just showed emotion once and it was when you got out. I was not feeling the pressure as I knew the pressure is clearly on the bowler. I knew he would bowl back of a length delivery,” said Hardik.

Meanwhile, India will face Hong Kong in their next encounter on August 31.