Hardik Pandya walks off the field after being dismissed during the fourth T20I cricket match between India and New Zealand at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. (PTI) Indian men’s cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he feels confident and motivated ahead of India’s ICC T20 World Cup opener against USA. He believes his journey is just beginning despite completing 10 years in international cricket and feels he can become “really scary” as a player in the coming years, especially with the bat.India will begin their title defense at the Wankhede Stadium where the focus will be on Hardik. He has already established himself as a key player for India in the big matches and fans will be keen to see his role as the tournament progresses.
Why Gautam Gambhir and Hardik Pandya had an intense chat ahead of India vs USA T20 WC
In a video published by Star Sports, Hardik said that he wants to win at least four or five more ICC trophies for India. He was part of India’s ICC T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and spoke about his mindset and ambitions as a player.“I stand by it (on his earlier message to win a few ICC trophies at least for India). My journey has just started, it’s not 10 years. This Hardik has 10 years of experience in life. More exciting and scary. I want to win as many ICC trophies as possible and at least 4-5 more for India, I will make it better and stronger. I will feel stronger. I have a scar.” player, especially as a batsman, I really want to scare everyone now,” said Hardik.He added: “You buy things to use, if you’re scared then don’t buy it. When I play, the catch I take is more expensive than the watch I wear. I’m playing a sport, when the ball comes to me, it’s more valuable than anything else I wear here or out there,” he said.During India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup, which ended an 11-year wait for an ICC title, Hardik scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48.00 and a success rate of over 151, including one fifty. He also took 11 wickets at an average of 17.36. He returned figures of 3/20 in the final against South Africa, dismissing Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.In winning the Champions Trophy, Hardik scored 99 runs in four innings at an average of 24.75 and a success rate of over 106, with a highest score of 45. He also took four wickets at an average of 35.75 with best figures of 2/31.
