Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya (PC-Getty Images)

India defeated New Zealand by 168 runs in the third and final T20I of the three-match series at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, February 1. The Men in Blue lost the first match but bounced back to clinch the series 2-1. Former cricketer Irfan Pathan praised Hardik Pandya’s captaincy and said that he will back himself and move forward.

Shubman Gill smashed his maiden T20I century, scoring 126 runs off 63 balls, and helped India post a mammoth score of 234/4 in 20 overs. Hardik Pandya played a quick-fire innings of 30 runs off 17 balls and impressed with his bowling, registering figures of 4/16 in his four-over quota. The Indian skipper was named Player of the Series for his performance during the series.

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Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya
Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya (PC-BCCI)

The Most Difficult Job Is To Keep Things Simple In Difficult Times – Irfan Pathan

During a discussion on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan shared his thoughts on Hardik Pandya’s captaincy. The former all-rounder said that Pandya keeps things simple under pressure and while taking decisions. The cricketer-turned-commentator said that the 29-year-old wouldn’t give importance to the outside noise.

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“The most difficult job is to keep things simple in difficult times. All successful captains or cricketers do that only. You get results only if you keep things simple under pressure and that is being seen while he is talking or making changes. The world might say anything, it doesn’t matter to him, he is doing his job,” Irfan Pathan said.

Irfan Pathan
Irfan Pathan (Image Credit: Twitter)

“There will be times when he will be criticized going forward because it is a very young captaincy career. But with the sort of attitude he has and the way I know him, it won’t bother him. He will keep backing himself and keep moving forward,” he added.

Hardik Pandya continued his unbeaten record as India’s T20I captain and never lost a bilateral series. Pandya captained 11 matches in T20Is, won 8 matches, lost 2 games and tied one match.