Hardik Pandya, India T20I captain, has stated that he won’t be unduly upset if his team loses a match. He added that it was important to be in difficult situations which helps the team prepare and take on bigger challenges.
Pandya said that he was unable to train due to cramps. He didn’t sleep well the night before and wasn’t drinking enough water.
India beat Sri Lanka by two runs in the opening T20I at the Wankhede Stadium. Unbeaten runs from Deepak Hooda (41) & Axar Patel (31) gave the hosts an adequate target to defend after being in trouble at 94 for 5.
We might lose one or two games, but that’s okay. This will allow us to win big games. I want to challenge this team. We are good at bilaterals and we will continue to challenge ourselves. Pandya said, “All the young guns saved us from this situation today.”
Hardik was forced to leave the field after taking a catch. The skipper joked that Hardik likes to scare people.
It is cramps. I now have a tendency to scare people. I didn’t sleep well and I did not drink enough water, which resulted in my glutes being stiff. Pandya, who was present at the ceremony, said that she was feeling unwell.
Shivam Mavi, a debutant pacer, was one of the stars of the evening. The skipper was full praise for Shivam Mavi, who scored 4/22 in his debut T20 match.
“The conversation was simple. I’ve seen Avi bowl well in the IPL, so I know his strengths. Just back yourself and don’t worry about getting hit.
I just told him to bowl. I said to him, “I’m backing you.” Even if you get hit, it’s fine.’ If it’s the same situation, I will accept the new ball.”
He said, “I have been playing in the nets since I was in the IPL. “I have re-learned how to swing it.”
Dasun Shanaka, the captain of Sri Lanka, stated that the visitors should have won the match.
“It was (our loss). It was really disappointing how we ended. Wankhede is a place where you need to have the help of the batsmen.
“I really like the matchups and that’s why we limited India to 162. Shanaka stated that it is still the first match and that batters are a good group of young people. They will be good.”
Mavi stated that he had been waiting six years for his chance to be in the senior Indian team.
“Was in the waiting room for six years after I played U19. In those six years, I had to work hard and was also injured. It looked for a while like my dream would never come true. But I kept at it.
“I have played the IPL and the nervousness has diminished. In the powerplay, my idea is to attack and get them off. Mavi stated that the favourite dismissal was the one with the most bowls.