Virat Kohli does not need us, we need him: Bumrah
Bumrah, however, stressed that Kohli knows his cricket better than anyone else and that his experience of batting in these challenging conditions was essential from the team’s perspective.
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Thursday his recovery was on track but he was not sure when would be able to make a comeback.
Hardik Pandya is currently out of the Indian squad due to the injury he suffered during the recently concluded Asia Cup 2018. Speaking to the Times of India, Pandya said he believed in living in the present and did not give much attention to what people were saying about him.
Hardik Pandya had come under fire during India’s tour to England, where the Virat Kohli-led side saw a humiliating 1-4 defeat in the five-match Test series. During the tour, former Indian batting legend Sunil Gavaskar and veteran West Indies pacer Michael Holding had questioned Pandya’s all-rounder tag. However, Pandya is not worried about it.
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“They’ve played so much cricket. Let them say it. It’s OK. I’ve heard them so much. I respect that. I’m worthy enough that they’re talking about me. If I wasn’t, they wouldn’t have said anything about me! I take it in a positive way,” Pandya said.
There are also reports in the media that suggest the team management wants to rest the 25-year-old cricketer in order to keep him fresh for the World Cup. But Pandya is not thinking about all these things.
“I’m not thinking about anything. It’s completely the (team) management’s call. That’s how I’ve played my cricket till now. I do whatever they (captain and the coach) and my team require me to do. If they want me to play any particular format, I’m OK. If they want me to play all three (formats), I’m completely fine,” Pandya said.
When Hardik Pandya was asked about the influence of former Indian skipper MS Dhoni and his successor Virat Kohli, he said, “He’s helped me improve my game, which is a fantastic quality in him. Till now, I’ve grown with him. My career started under MS, then Virat took over. I’ve improved under both of them.”
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