Hearing Kapil Dev term me as a better player than him gave goosebumps: Hardik Pandya

Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has stated that he experienced goosebumps after hearing legendary cricketer Kapil Dev term him as a better player in comparison. Hardik said that he saw the World Cup winning skipper praise him in such a manner, while interacting with people. The all-rounder expressed pride on being hailed in such a manner by the greatest all-rounder ever in Indian cricket.

“It was special to receive the cap on ODI debut because Kapil Dev gave it to me and told me, “You do better than what I have done. You will succeed. Keep working hard.”Before my back surgery, it was very sweet of him to call and say: “Beta, please aap haldi ka doodh peena. Sab theekh ho jayega [Son, drink turmeric milk and everything will be all right]. Take care.”I have heard him talk about me to people and say, “He is better than me.” I am not, but someone like him saying that gives me goosebumps and makes me proud that the best allrounder India has ever seen is saying it. So how can I describe that feeling, you know,” said Hardik as quoted by Cricinfo.

“Was not able to concentrate after Koffee with Karan controversy”

The all-rounder further shared information about the struggle experienced before the 2019 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“I will tell you one story not many know. Before the 2019 IPL, I had scored a 30-ball 90 and 30-ball 87 in two practice matches. In the first game of the tournament, I got a first-ball duck. At the Chinnaswamy [Bengaluru], while practising, I was missing the ball by this much ( shows a wide gap). Because when this is not right (points to head) and when you question yourself, things just go wrong. That day I cried during training because there was a lot of emotion. Because of how I was portrayed [after the talk-show incident]. I was never that individual. I was not able to concentrate on my sport because there was a lot of expectation from myself, leave anyone else,” he said.

“As I was crying, MJ [Mahela Jayawardene, Mumbai head coach] saw me. He said: “What is happening? It will come. It happens.” I was not able to talk, so I asked him to give me some time. He had already told my brother before that IPL started: “Hardik is going to do something amazing which you guys have never seen. This year you are going to see: this is the Hardik I have always seen and now he has arrived. After that first game [where he got a duck], when I went to my room, Krunal came. I asked everyone to go away. Natasa was also there, but I asked her to leave. I put the music on loud and shouted. I was getting my frustration out because in seven-eight months this was the first time I lost out. It was Krunal’s birthday but I was not even able to smile,” added Hardik.

Krunal terms Hardik as his role model

The all-rounder however managed to pull off a stunning comeback following an interaction with elder brother Krunal Pandya.

“Because when your mind fights… I have two Hardiks inside me. One is always making sure all the right things are done, and the other is just the bubbly guy who speaks to everyone. I was not able to combine them together. Krunal comes and says: “Let people have expectations from you.” He tells me that even today: “My cricket role model is you, so if you don’t grow, if I come to your level as a cricketer, I won’t be happy because I have always looked up to you. Let people have expectations from you. Just relax, because where you are and what you have done and what you are going to do, no one will be able to match you.”The first game after that I scored a 14-ball 32,” he concluded.