‘We’ll sit down and have conversations’ – Hardik Pandya’s stunning reply to former England cricketer

With India bowing out of the 20-20 World Cup 2022 in the knockout stage, a fresh team is all set to take on Kane Williamson’s New Zealand in a three-match T20I series set to get underway on November 18, Friday. However, ever since India crashed out of the multinational tournament, Men in Blue have been facing criticism from all parts of the world. 

Michael Vaughan, the former England cricketer said that the Indian team are underperformers and claimed that they lag behind when it comes to the process, with the amount of talent that they have. Parenthetically, ever since Virat Kohli stepped down from captaincy, India have been struggling to come up with the right choices of players and team selection. 

“India are the most underperforming white-ball team in history. I am just staggered by how they play T20 cricket for the talent they have. They have the players, but just do not have the right process in place. They have to go for it. Why do they give the opposition bowlers the first five overs to bed in?” Vaughan was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. 

Hardik Pandya, the captain of the Indian team for the T20I series against New Zealand, replied to the comment and said that the team would respect such opinions, although they are in no need to prove their prowess, given that they are already playing on the international stage. 

It’s a sport, you try to get better: Hardik Pandya

Commenting on Vaughan’s statement, Pandya said that with the next 20-20 World Cup still two years away, the team will not stress much about the players who would be a part of the tournament, although the roadmap for it starts right away. 

“Obviously when you don’t do well, people will have their opinion, which we respect. I understand people have different points of view. Being at the international level, I don’t think we need to prove anything to anyone. It’s a sport, you keep trying to get better and eventually when the result is supposed to happen it will happen. There are things we need to work on, going forward we will rectify and work on it,” Pandya was quoted as saying. 

“There is a disappointment of the 20-20 World Cup, but we are professionals. We need to cope with it the way we cope with our success and move forward, look to get better and rectify the mistakes we made,” said the allrounder further. 

“The next 20-20 World Cup will be in two years if I’m not wrong so we have time. Till then, a lot of cricket will be played, a lot of people will have enough chances. The roadmap starts now but it’s quick (to make any comments). We’ll sit down and start having those conversations. Right now, it’s about letting the boys enjoy it, it’s a beautiful country to play cricket, we’ll talk about the future later,” he added. 

Admitting to young players have enough experience, Pandya said that the fresh team will leave no stone unturned to clinch the win against the Kiwis in the upcoming series. To add more to the tour, post the T20I series, India will play as many ODIs under the leadership of Shikhar Dhawan.

“Main boys are not here but the talent we have… The players who are already here, have been playing for India for one and a half two years now so they have had enough time in international cricket to express themselves. very excited for them, new guys, new bunch, new energy, so it’s gonna be quite exciting,” the right-handed batter was quoted as saying.