I enjoy such competition – Hardik Pandya makes a bold remark after India’s emphatic victory at Guyana

After a successful show with the ball in hand, Hardik Pandya showed his panache with the bat as he dealt the finishing blow of the game, helping India across the finish line in the third T20I after defeats in the first two games of the series. He was also exceptional with the captaincy last night as he carefully plotted his moves and weighed in on the various ramifications of treading on the egg shells before finally making the decision.

Talking at the post-match conference, Pandya highlighted the planning that went on in the dressing room and what the exact mindset of the entire Indian team was before coming out to play against the hosts. He also shed some light on the crucial partnership between Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav that helped India to run away with the bragging rights of the game.

He started by talking about the mindset, adding, “We spoke as a group that these three games will be exciting. Two losses or two wins does not change the long term plans. We have to show we are ready when it comes to such (must-win) games.”

Pandya then shifted his focus to how India dealt with the threat posed by Nicholas Pooran, stating, “Nicky (Pooran) didn't come out to bat and that allowed us to keep our pacers back, also allowed Axar to bowl his four overs. If Nicky wants to hit, let him hit me and that was the plan, I enjoy such competition. I know he is going to hear this and will come hard at me in the fourth T20I.”

He also cleared out the thoughts about playing seven batters, mentioning, “As a group we have decided to bat with seven batters and we have to take responsibility, like it happened today if the batters score runs then you don't need someone at number eight.”

Pandya concluded by heaping praises on Suryakumar and Varma, stating, “As Surya mentioned, they (SKY and Tilak) play together and spend time together, good to have someone like SKY in the team and when he takes responsibility it sends a message to the others.”