Hardik Pandya stood out with the bat in the ODI series against Australia. He ended up as the highest run-scorer for India with a tally of 210 runs that too at an average of 105. The all-rounder also donned the ball for the first time in more than a year and managed to pick the all-important wicket of Steve Smith in the second ODI.

However, it was in the third ODI where he and Ravindra Jadeja produced the most exhilarating performance with the bat. Both revived the innings from 152/5 and took India past 300. While Hardik scored an unbeaten 92* (76), Jadeja played a quickfire knock of 66* (50).

"We were expecting 260-270. But we always say when you try to score 60-70, you can end up getting 90. We aimed for 60-65 and because of the shots we have we were able to get the extra 20-25"

Speaking to TOI, he compared it with a similar instance during the Kandy Test back in 2017.

“At 322-6, we were expecting to get past 400. But we always say you're going to get a 50-55 and then probably look for more and you end up getting a 100 - because of the shots we have"

I didn’t know when I was going to play again

Talking about the controversy that erupted in 2019, Hardik expressed regret for letting himself down.

"I will never let myself and my loved ones down again. I was lost. I usually have a very active mind. I don't stop thinking. After what happened (in January 2019), I wasn't able to focus on anything. That's when I sat down and told myself, I can't allow this to keep going on. I knew I had to restart.”

"I started to practice again. I didn't know when I was going to play again. I was just batting in the nets. I realized cricket alone was going to get me out of the rut. If I don't score runs, I anyways won't return to the team. I won't do a lot of things the way I did back then. I'm going to keep looking at ways to improve.”

The women in my family continue to remain the backbone

"I really didn't know what 'misogynistic' meant. At first, I laughed thinking it was some word being used to make fun of me. Then a friend said, it means ‘someone who strongly dislikes women’. How can I dislike women? Mom, didi (sister), bhabhi (sister-in-law), Natasa - they're all women. I adore them. My home is all about women. We are because they are”

"For the first time, I wasn't in control of my own life. Everything around me started to crumble. I had to lock myself up. If not for my family, I'd have lost a great deal of everything. They were and continue to remain the backbone - the women in my family”

Cricket gave me and my brother something to fight for

"Today, it's my turn to be the backbone of my family. I grew up in a family where there was absolute freedom. We were taught to make our own decisions. I'll give my son the same freedom. We were raised in very tough times. Money was always an issue in the family. We struggled. But we were happy. Cricket gave me and my brother something to fight for. Cricket is once again putting my life in perspective"

"What I've been trying to do in the game is I always have a Plan B, just in case Plan A doesn't work. Preparation has to be the key. I've tried to apply it to my game like any other facet of my life. I started bowling in my career very late. What people should be learning at 14-15-16, I started learning very late at 22-24. But then, I realized, I had the knack of picking wickets. The fifer in Nottingham instilled a lot of confidence."

I would like to rather be called a dad now

"During the lockdown, I would bat for hours together. Sometimes to bat my way out of frustration, sometimes to bat my way out of boredom. But at all times to prepare for what was coming. I know I have it in me, just needed to remind myself time and again."

"I am fine if Jadeja keeps that role (rockstar of the team). I am a father now, so I would like to rather be called a dad now"

On 30th July, Hardik and Natasa delivered a baby boy Agastya. The toddler is quite adorable as seen in the images shared by his parents on Instagram.

 

 

 

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With Hardik having played continuous cricket since the IPL, he will finally get to spend time with his son Agastya after the conclusion of the T20I series.