Ravi Shastri, Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya. (Photo by Marty MELVILLE / AFP)

The last few days have been pretty tough for Hardik Pandya on and off the field. Firstly, he was injured during India’s successful campaign in the Asia Cup 2018. Later, when he made a great recovery to be back in the team, he was struck with a controversy, which saw him being suspended to play any form of the game. Meanwhile, Ravi Shastri’s revealed his suggestion to Pandya, after rejoining the team.

Recently, Hardik Pandya alongside KL Rahul attended a talk show named Koffee With Karan. During the course, Hardik was carried away and made few sexist remarks, which didn’t do well with the youngsters out there. He received a lot of flak, which eventually, ended up being suspended. However, it was revoked recently to join the Indian National Cricket Team.

BCCI handled it well – Ravi Shastri

Speaking to Cricbuzz in a long interview, Ravi Shastri quoted that he asked the young all-rounder to vanish everything from his mind and start freshly. He added that the controversy followed by suspension was a nice rap on his knuckles to stay grounded.

Ravi Shastri, Hardik Pandya
Ravi Shastri (Credits – BCCI)

Further, he lauded the Board of Control for Cricket in India for dealing the situation in a right. Apart from all, Ravi Shastri believes that Hardik Pandya is destined to do great things for the country via the Indian National Cricket Team.

”I have told him to brush it off (the repercussions following his comments on the chat show ‘Koffee with Karan’). Consider it a rap on the knuckles, a hard rap on the knuckles, and now move on. I have told him, ‘You are born for better stuff’,” Ravi Shastri told when asked about his advice to Hardik Pandya after returning to the game.

Hardik Pandya, Kiran More, India vs New Zealand 2019
Hardik Pandya (Credits – Getty)

”Who doesn’t make mistakes? He has not made a mistake where you can book him for anything. I think the BCCI handled it well with a proper rap on his knuckles (for whatever was said). I don’t want to comment on the BCCI process, though. Only, that they brought him back to where he belongs. I am happy to see him where he belongs, on the cricket field,” he added.

After making the return to the game, Hardik Pandya delivered right in his first game. Initially, he took a stunning catch to dismiss Kane Williamson and later, bowled his heart out to make things fall in place. And then, he showed his real character in the final ODI of the series.

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