Sri Lanka Vs India 2017: Inside The Team We Absolutely Have 120% Faith In Hardik Pandya, Says Virat Kohli

India captain Virat Kohli was all praise for Hardik Pandya after the allrounder’s starring role in the third Test against Sri Lanka which India won by an innings and 177 runs to inflict an whitewash on the hosts.

Pandya, who made his Test debut in the series-opener at Galle,  was adjudged the Man of the Match for his quickfire 108 runs knock. He scored the runs off just 96 balls to help India post a daunting 487 in the first innings. What was even more impressive were the circumstances under which his maiden first-class ton came . The visitors were 339 for 7 with all the recognised batsmen back in the hut but Pandya played a brilliant knock to put India in a commanding position.

The Baroda star shared 62 and 20 runs with Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Shami for the eighth and ninth wicket, respectively before going berserk to complete his maiden first-class century off just 86 balls.

Impressed by his performance, Virat Kohli, at the post-match press conference, said that India’s newest Test player has managed to silence the critics with his performance.

“I don’t think I need add any more lines, his performance has spoken for itself. People might have problems with the kind of demeanour he has or the belief he carries with himself, but we, certainly in the team, have no doubts on that. We let him be who he is, we let him express himself. You know, a guy who can get a fifty and a hundred in his first three games batting at No.8 has to have something special in him. And the innings that he played here, after being 320 for 6, it wasn’t just mad slogging,” Kohli said. 

“He actually used his brain and batted with the tail which I think is a great sign for us. He brings in great balance to the team, he’s a gun fielder and he gives you those crucial breakthroughs, he’s very handy with the ball and we know what he can do with the bat as well. All doubts aside from the outside, inside the team we absolutely have 120% faith in him,” he added.