When I bowl, I smile, I fight, I show aggression: Hardik Pandya

23-year old Hardik Pandya had a memorable tour of Sri Lanka. He played his maiden Test series, scored a fifty on debut, brought up his first hundred 2 games later, and contributed consistently throughout the tour. The Gujarat-born all-rounder has 21 ODI games under his belt, and scored 308 runs with the bat apart from picking 23 wickets with the ball.

For now, the hunt for a genuine fast bowling all-rounder has been put to rest. Pandya is very much in the scheme of things for the 2019 world cup. He was promoted up the order during one of the ODIs and has been backed by captain Virat Kohli, who compared him to England’s all-rounder Ben Stokes, on many occasions.

Kohli wants me to be myself: Pandya

In a free flowing chat with Hindustan Times, Pandya confessed that playing Test match cricket was always his dream, and how important was his maiden ton against the Lankans. On being asked on his much-talked about lifestyle and the flamboyance, which can be related to the Indian skipper Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri as well, Pandya said “I’ve seen Virat, and the discipline he has, and the confidence he has. I am confident and I want to learn his discipline. I keep on asking questions, try to learn. I might look like a guy who does all kinds of things but actually I am a very reserved person. I may look like I party freak who is not disciplined. But I have a focus on the game and that is always there. It’s okay, people may have issues but it’s just that it’s my nature.”

I like to be charged up: Pandya

He also added that the skipper doesn’t want him to change. He said that the team wants him to be himself, which in a process brings out the best in him. Talking about his latest hairstyle, which went viral on the internet, Pandya said I keep on trying. I don’t do it for anyone. I do it for myself, so I don’t care if you like it or don’t like it. It’s just that I felt like doing it so I did it. It’s like owning your own farm. You can always grow whatever you want. So, khud ki kheti hai, jo ugaana hai ugaalo.”

Talking about his aggressive attitude, the talented youngster said that he likes to be charged up, when going in to bowl. “I am someone who likes to be charged up. (When in the middle) I only focus on my game and I just want to be ruthless, that’s how I am. I have said in an interview, that ‘if you want to come and fight, I am not the one who will step back’. When I am bowling I am a different guy, when I bat I am a different guy, I don’t react, I don’t smile much, when I bowl I smile, I fight, I show aggression, everything comes naturally’. Pandya said.