New Delhi, February 12 India's star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, said on Thursday that his preparation for any major tournament is similar to army-camp-style training, incorporating rigorous physical activities and discipline to help him perform at his peak for the country.
Pandya delivered a stellar all-round performance, leading India to a comprehensive victory over Namibia in the T20 World Cup here.
"My body has been fantastic, and it requires a lot of hard work, which I value. Playing for the country is my top priority. I undergo a month-long training camp similar to an army camp before any major tournament," said Pandya, who was named Player of the Match for his all-round performance.
He scored 52 off 28 balls and took two wickets, injecting momentum into the innings during the middle overs and playing a crucial role in India's emphatic 93-run victory.
Pandya attributed his performance to rigorous preparation before the World Cup, saying he always takes pride in his batting, and when it goes well, it's like "adding sugar to the cake."
He added that India has a well-balanced team with ample options across all departments.
"We have a lot of options, both pace and spin bowlers are strong. Varun (Chakravarthy), Axar (Patel) and Kuldeep (Yadav) have also been doing well."
However, he expressed a desire for more batting-friendly, flatter pitches that allow for better stroke-making.
"The two consecutive pitches haven't been ideal for batting, the wicket was a bit slow today. You just have to adapt and let your skills work. We would like a few more flatter pitches," he opined.
India captain, Suryakumar Yadav, said that the pitch was a bit challenging to bat on, but openers Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson adjusted exceptionally well.
"It was a pretty good game, but the pitch was tough to bat on. Ishan and Samson made it look easier. The ball was stopping a bit, but I don't want to take away credit from Namibia's bowlers. After the first 6-7 overs, we thought we might reach 240, but cricket is unpredictable.
"We had a great finish. It's great to see Bumrah bowl all four overs. Varun bowls well in partnership with Axar, and Hardik bowls wherever needed, which gives a big boost with his batting. Every game is important, and we started a bit poorly, but we are on the right track," he added.
Namibia captain, Gerhard Erasmus, said that he felt India would be at a disadvantage while batting second due to the dew factor, but Varun's spell completely negated that concern.
"After the powerplay, we thought the dew might make bowling tough, but we had a chance. But Varun's spell completely changed the game. Smit's spell was also good, and that's the kind of specialization we want.
"We aren't playing at our 100 per cent. We have a lot of firepower, but we haven't been able to build a solid foundation. The quality of India's bowling showed, especially in the 6-10 overs," said Erasmus.
