'I don't play for Hardik Pandya, I play for India'

NEW DELHI: India's star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is brimming with confidence. He is eager to step onto the field, send the ball soaring into the stands, and rattle the stumps with his fiery bowling. Known for turning games on their head, Hardik Pandya is all set for the highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan and Dubai, starting from February 19.



India will play all their ICC Champions Trophy matches at the Dubai International Stadium, beginning their campaign against Bangladesh on February 20.

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The much-awaited clash against arch-rivals Pakistan is set for February 23, followed by their final league-stage encounter against New Zealand on March 2.


In an interview shared by the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Wednesday, Pandya reminisced about the electrifying 2022 T20 World Cup showdown between India and Pakistan in Melbourne - a match India won by four wickets.

Having claimed three wickets in that game, the allrounder reflected on how he handled the immense pressure of the high-stakes encounter against Pakistan.



"It is just about who handles pressure better. I don't play for Hardik Pandya; I play for the team. I play for India—that's the goal. Whether that means playing just two balls at the end or batting for 60 balls, the focus is on taking the game ball by ball and getting closer to victory. Let’s see who cracks under pressure," Pandya told in an interview posted by ICC.


India began their T20 World Cup campaign against Pakistan, winning the toss and electing to field in front of a packed crowd at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground.


"When I entered the field and saw the atmosphere—the kind of energy the fans and spectators were bringing—it was just amazing. I had to take a moment to absorb it. Even though I have played many games, it was overwhelming in a way that made me both excited and happy. The atmosphere for this match, especially since it was India vs. Pakistan, just took everything up a notch. This rivalry has existed for years. While we have intense competition on the field, there are also so many emotions involved. The engagement, the excitement—it's a clash that people remember and eagerly wait for.



"My plan was very simple: to back my strengths and be smart about it. In the first two balls I bowled, I got a little too excited by the Australian bounce and the wicket. As a result, I bowled a couple of deliveries that turned out to be boundary balls in those conditions. When I came in for my second spell, we obviously needed wickets. I was aware that they were going to put the accelerator on and try to score boundaries to reach a decent total. That’s when I realized that sticking to good balls would be the key.


"I have always been someone who relies on good length and lines—that is my strength. I definitely don’t have the variations or skill set of Jasprit Bumrah, but I do possess Hardik Pandya’s skill set. For me, bowling back-of-a-length deliveries has always been a strength. It's more about gamesmanship, awareness, and using my skills effectively.

"I was aggressive—I wanted to take wickets. My mindset was: ‘If you want to hit me, hit me off a good ball.’ That approach helped me take those two wickets. Just before that, I had kept the mid-on and mid-wicket fielders up, but for that particular ball, I sent one fielder back because I sensed he was going to go after me. I knew where my deliveries were landing and where the most likely scoring areas were—especially mid-wicket. Taking those wickets was quite satisfying," Pandya, who dismissed Shadab Khan, Haider Ali and Mohammad Nawaz, said.

India secured a thrilling four-wicket victory, driven by Virat Kohli's masterful unbeaten 82 off 53 balls.



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