IND vs NZ: "I Am Really Looking Forward To Seeing The Way Hardik Pandya Leads" - Ravi Shastri

Ravi Shastri is interested in how Hardik Pandya will lead Team India against New Zealand in the T20I series.

In the shortest format of the game, where Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul are not present, Pandya is in charge of the 16-member Indian team. Due to weather, the first game of the three-match series was postponed on November 18. The final two games will now be played on Sunday and Tuesday.

Ravi Shastri Lauds Hardik Pandya

Shastri was questioned about Pandya’s selection as India’s T20I captain for the tour during a conversation on Prime Video. He responded:

“I am really looking forward to seeing the way Hardik leads. He has got the flamboyance, he has got the exuberance. That will reflect on the players in the team. I remember when Kapil Dev was captain.”

The captain inspires the other team members, which makes the former Indian head coach feel like he has an impact. He elaborated:

“When you have an impact player or an all-rounder, a player who is in the thick of action right through those 20 overs, it makes a massive difference. It lifts the spirits of the others, they want to emulate him.”

Prior to the game on Friday, Hardik Pandya had led India in three T20Is—two against Ireland and one against the West Indies. All three of those contests ended in victories for the Men in Blue.

Hardik Pandya Is A Changed Man – Murali Kartik

Whether Pandya is the obvious choice to succeed Virat Kohli as India’s captain was a question that was posed to Murali Kartik.

He replied: “Everywhere the proof of the pudding is in the eating and the way he led the Gujarat Titans and the maturity which he has shown every time he has led India. Obviously, he is a changed man.”

The former Indian spinner emphasised how Pandya’s increasing maturity had served him well.

He stated: “We have seen the Hardik Pandya who was quite impetuous when he came on. Now he is a lot more settled in what he wants to do and just the way the team has reacted around him, all the bigger stars have reacted around him.”

Kartik finished by saying that while it might not be time for India to start over just yet given that some seasoned players are not participating in the series, others have performed remarkably well whenever they have had the opportunity.

Also Read:IND vs NZ: India Have The Resources To Replicate England’s Success In White-Ball Cricket: Ravi Shastri