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India all-rounder Hardik Pandya delivered yet another match-winning performance by helping the visitors win the first of the three T20Is against England on Thursday by 7 wickets. Hardik's 51 off 33 balls plus a four-wicket haul with the ball helped India register a comfortable 50-run win over the Three Lions.
In the process, Hardik etched down his name in the history books by becoming the only Indian cricketer to score a half-century and take 4-wickets in the same T20I match. During the post-match presentation, Hardik admitted that he was aware of the record he created and mentioned how he took 4 wickets and scored some 30 odd runs when he toured England last time.
Pandya who has made a remarkable comeback to the national squad confessed that it was his conscious decision to take a long break from the game.
"I want success but a lot of time I spend on fitness and my skillsets. For me, a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. Pandya, in his speech, also said that spends time on his fitness when he is on a break and away from the game. He also said that it was a conscious decision to take a long break from the game.
Pandya admitted that because of the long break that he had, he could regain his rhythm. "Bowling quickly was a conscious decision and that's why I decided to take some time off from the game. It's all about giving 100 per cent and when you don't do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be able to contribute to the team's success," the IPL-winning captain said.
The ex-Mumbai Indians star stated that leading the Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022 helped him to understand the game better and enhanced his own game. "I am happy. I always have been the kind of individual who liked responsibility and enhance my game. Captaincy adds some responsibility but for me, I have always been a responsible player," Pandya said.