HARDIK PANDYA EXCLUSIVE

IPL changed my life, you wouldn't know me without it: Hardik Pandya

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Hardik Pandya (right) scored 112 runs at a strike-rate of 180.64 in IPL 2015 © Cricbuzz

Hardik Pandya is a man brimming with confidence, and rightly so. First, he impressed the likes of John Wright, left an impression on Ricky Ponting and a few notable performances in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2015 has earned him his maiden national team call-up to the Twenty20 side for the upcoming tour of Australia, one that he says was on expected lines for him.

While he acknowledges the fact that he has not had the best domestic season, he backs himself to the hilt to do well Down Under. In an exclusive chat with cricbuzz, the 22-year-old traces the start to his career, his chancy transformation from being a leg-spinner to a fast bowler, his close bond with Irfan Pathan and much more.

When did it all start for you?

My brother used to play cricket. I didn't have any plans of playing and I used to just go do some masti with him. Kiran More sir, the coach, saw me and asked me why I was doing masti and said I should also be playing. So that's how it all started for me.

Your family shifted from Surat to Baroda. How crucial was it for your cricket?

We had to shift because Kiran More sir came to Surat and saw my brother, saw that he has talent. Surat does not have much of a cricketing culture. So he asked my parents to shift to Baroda for my brother's cricket. They didn't have any plans of making me play cricket. They (parents) actually left their business and straightaway came to Baroda, one month after Kiran sir's advice. I was five when we made the move and a year or two after that, I started playing.

How has the experience of playing domestic cricket with Baroda been?

It is always good to play domestic cricket and know the people around you. I was playing cricket for Baroda since I was a kid and I will be playing for them only. Obviously, I know the people very well and we have special bond together. The players are really nice and the association is quite good.

You were once a leg spinner and then converted to a fast bowler. How did that happen?

Actually I used to bowl part-time leg spin. I was a decent enough leg-spinner. But I never used to get bowling. It used to upset me but after sometime I decided not to focus on bowling and be a proper, classical batsman. I focussed on my batting, but I used to help the fast bowlers in the nets and bowl a few seam ups there. Somehow my Ranji Trophy coach Sanath Kumar saw me and a just a month since then I started bowling in the Ranji Trophy games. So that's how I started my bowling. One thing I must say is a batsman is always ready to bowl. Spin, seam anything. There was also a match for the cricket academy (Kiran More Academy) when our team were short of fast bowlers due to injuries so I chipped in.

What sort of an impact would you say has the IPL had on your national team selection?

IPL played the main part. My Ranji season did not go well. I did well in a couple of innings (in IPL 2015) and I was bowling quite well. IPL I guess is the biggest platform for any youngster to come into limelight and the scheme of things. Definitely IPL is where you can prove yourself on the bigger stage. I will say that IPL has changed my life, otherwise no one knew who Hardik Pandya was. Even you wouldn't know me without it.

Ricky Ponting, the Mumbai Indians coach, rates you very highly. How is your relationship with him?

I have been quite close to Ponting. He's an amazing coach. I think he likes my hard work. During IPL, we gelled very well and he used to help me around. Ponting has been very good with me. He used to throw balls, make me do drills all the time during the IPL. He always said "Keep working hard". If I can I will talk to him again before the Australia series and I am sure he will be happy to help me.

As a 19-year-old, you once scored 24 runs off Irfan Pathan's over. What happened next?

That happened in a practice match. That's how Irfan bhai got impressed by me. For a 19-year-old to hit 24 runs off an international fast bowler, it was a big thing. He did not have this ego thing. No one likes to get hit by a 19-year-old kid. For example, if I bowl now and a 19-year-old comes and hits me, I won't like it. In my case, Irfan bhai got so impressed, he asked me to come the next day and we practiced together. He bowled me 50-60 yorkers and I was batting. From that only, he started liking me. After that we became quite close.

Did you expect the national call-up?

I was quite expecting it. Though my Ranji Trophy one-day performances did not go well, still I was somewhat expecting it because a few international cricketers like senior players came up to me and told me that 'you're doing well, keep on doing. You will be getting a call soon'. So I was expecting it. Harbhajan (Singh) paaji was there who told me that. There were a few other players, who I don't want to mention but yes Bhajji pa was the main guy. Irfan was telling me, Ambati Rayudu was telling me, Munaf Patel was telling me.

Bhajji pa was the first to congratulate me. He called me up and said congrats and Irfan came down. Everyone at home are really happy right now.

What do you believe you bring to the table for the Indian T20I side? Have you started your preparations?

The plus point what I have is that my bowling and batting (skills) are equal. Obviously, batting will be a more stronger point but I am quite a good enough bowler as well. I bowl quick too. I can be a proper fast bowler and a proper batsman as well. I am a very good fielder. So I guess I will be very handy. I would say I would contribute well in all three departments.

I've been preparing with Kiran sir right now. He always guides me and helps me with my game. We are working on my batting against short-ball stuff because I don't expect the Australians to be bowling at my legs. We've been training with a tennis ball a wet ball and even a cork ball to deal with short-pitch bowling.

Now that the selection has come along, have you already set your sights on the World T20?

Definitely. I don't want to just play three games for India. I want to be there for a long time. First, my goal was to get into the Indian side. Now that I am in, I want to play there and build my game. In my life, I follow this rule, whichever level I reach, I should target the upper level. My next step is to play for India and do well. If I achieve that, my other goal will be to get into the main setup.

© Cricbuzz

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