"Don't Play This Sport To Show Anything To Anybody": Hardik Pandya Ahead Of India-Ireland T20I Series

25.06.2022 - 16:01 sports.ndtv.com

Hardik Pandya has been a revelation in recent times with some great cricket in the IPL and for the national side. He led Gujarat Titans from the from the front to help the new franchise win the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022.

He was also the "Player of the Match" in the final with an all-round show. Then in the recently-concluded India-South Africa T20I series, Pandya batted with responsibility and impressed all.

He will now be leading the Indian cricket team in the two-T20I series against Ireland, starting on Sunday. Ahead of the game, he was asked how he wants to prove his mettle because after the series, he won't be the captain anymore when the seniors return.

Pandya gave a string reply to the question. "I am not here to show anything to anybody. I have got an opportunity to lead India, that itself is a big thing for me.

cricket India Cricket Team Hardik Pandya South Africa Uae Ireland India

India sealed a thrilling four-run win over Ireland in the second T20I to seal the two-match series on Tuesday. India made three changes for the second T20I against Ireland, with Sanju Samson, Harshal Patel and Ravi Bishnoi getting a nod in the playing XI. As India captain Hardik Pandya announced the changes in the playing XI, the crowd present at the Malahide Cricket Club in Dublin went wild upon hearing Samson's inclusion in the team. Even Hardik had a smile on his face after hearing the crowd's roar.

'With his pace, it's difficult to hit runs': Hardik Pandya reveals his decision to hand Umran Malik last crucial over of the match

Dublin. Ireland batters were scoring boundaries and almost came close to chasing down the total, needing 17 runs from the final over to pull off a huge upset. India captain Hardik Pandya explained the reason for giving young speedster Umran Malik the responsibility of bowling the last crucial over of the match.

Ireland vs India: Hardik Pandya Explains Why He Gave Crucial Final Over To Umran Malik

Hardik Pandya-led Indian cricket team on Tuesday won a nail-biting match by four runs against Ireland despite putting a mammoth total of 225 runs on the board in the second T20I at The Village in Dublin. Ireland batters were scoring boundaries and almost came close to chasing down the total, needing 17 runs from the final over to pull off a huge upset. India captain Hardik Pandya explained the reason for giving young speedster Umran Malik the responsibility of bowling the last crucial over of the match.

Yuzvendra Chahal, Hardik Pandya Enjoy "Day Out" Ahead Of 2nd T20I vs Ireland. See Pictures

Team India defeated Ireland by seven wickets in the first T20I match on Sunday. Given the second and final match of the series takes place after a one-day gap, it gave the players some time to rest and enjoy their outing. India skipper Hardik Pandya, spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and batter Deepak Hooda used the time to see the sights and sounds of Dublin - the city they are presently in at the moment for the ongoing series. Hardik and Chahal also took to social media later to share pictures and videos from the outing.

India vs Ireland - "May Be Get An IPL Contract": Hardik Pandya On Big-Hitting Ireland Youngster

After registering a thumping win over Ireland in the first T20I, India skipper Hardik Pandya lavished praise on rival batter Harry Tector for his brilliant batting in the match. Blistering knocks by Deepak Hooda and Hardik Pandya guided Team India to a seven-wicket over Ireland, in a rain-curtailed first T20I of the two-match series, at Malahide Cricket Club Ground in Dublin on Sunday. Earlier in the first innings, Harry Tector's unbeaten 64 off 33 balls guided Ireland to 108/4 against India.

"Maybe Next Game...": Hardik Pandya Has This To Say After Umran Malik Gets Only One Over In India vs Ireland 1st T20I

Team India started the two-match series against Ireland with a seven-wicket win in the first game at The Village in Dublin. The match on Sunday was reduced to 12 overs a side due to rain. Opting to bat first, Ireland posted 108/4 and India chased it down in 9.2 overs. While the Indian bowlers put a combined effort in the first innings, the second innings saw runs coming from the bats of Deepak Hooda, Ishan Kishan and Hardik Pandya.