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Cricket

“I have always enjoyed bowling with the new ball,” says Hardik Pandya

Following their ODI series victory over New Zealand, Team India will face the Kiwis in a three-match T20I series beginning on January 27 in Ranchi.

Prithvi Shaw returned to the T20I team after a year and a half absence, but it appears he will have to wait his time and remain on the bench. On the eve of the first T20I of the three-match series, captain Hardik Pandya indicated that Shubman Gill will be preferred over Shaw as the opener.

Gill has been in fantastic form in the 50-over format. The youthful opener has an ODI average of 73.76 and has scored 208, 40*, and 112 in three ODIs against New Zealand. However, the right-hander has been chastised for his strike rate in the shorter format of the game, whereas Shaw is known as an powerhouse who doesn’t mind playing his strokes from the start.

In his previous four innings, Gill has hit three hundreds, including a double century. Ishan Kishan is slated to open with Gill.

“Shubman has done well and will start the series. The way he is batting and was already in the team,” Hardik told reporters in a pre match conference.

Pandya was asked if he wanted to keep bowling with the new ball like he did in the T20I series against Sri Lanka and the third ODI in which Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj were benched.

“I have always enjoyed bowling with the new ball. Since quite a number of years whenever I bowl in the nets, I pick the new ball. I am used to the old ball so that I don’t feel the need to practice with the old ball as much. It has helped in match situations. With our two main bowlers rested in the last game, I had to be ready. But it has never been about pressure, half of the times pressure is gone if you prepare well,” explained Pandya.

On Thursday, the great MS Dhoni paid a surprise visit to the Indian team’s training session and spoke with Hardik Pandya and his teammates.

“Mahi bhai is here which is good as we get to meet him. We can get out of the hotel also. Otherwise, the way we have played in the last one month, it has just been hotel to hotel. And when we meet we try to talk about life rather than the game. When we played together I learnt a lot from him. I have squeezed a lot out of him… there is not much left,” explained Hardik.

Jitesh Sharma is in the team as a backup wicketkeeper in the absence of Rishabh Pant and Sanju Samson, following outstanding performances in domestic cricket and last year’s Indian Premier League. Pandya lauded Jitesh, but it is unclear whether he will play in the series against the Kiwi squad.

“Our strategy will be seen on the ground. Jitesh has been rewarded for his performances. Unfortunately, Sanju Samson got injured and Jitesh got the opportunity. We will try to win obviously. New Zealand is a good team both in T20Is and ODIs. They always challenge you. We will have to be at their best to beat them,” he added.

 

 

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