Hardik Pandya Opens Up On Difficult Times And Staying Away From Team India

The swashbuckling Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya made a return to the national side after a gap of six months owing to injury. He is currently a part of the ODI squad for the three-match series against South Africa of which the first game was abandoned due to inclement weather. Speaking ahead of the first ODI, Pandya has opened up on the difficult period and how not wearing the India jersey became a mental challenge.

Notably, Pandya has been out of action owing to back injury he suffered during the 2018 Asia Cup. It aggravated during the ICC World Cup last year and he had to finally undergo surgery. The selectors initially drafted Hardik Pandya in India A’s squad for the tour of New Zealand.

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However, the management withdrew his name as a safety measure with important series lined up alongside the Indian Premier League (IPL) and the ICC T20 World Cup 2020 in Australia later this year. Hardik Pandya was at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for his rehabilitation and finally returned to action in the ongoing DY Patil Cup 2020.

Finally, ahead of his return Hardik Pandya expressed that he has battled some mental setbacks during his time away from the team. The Baroda all-rounder also said that he missed the atmosphere around the team in the last few months.

“I missed this atmosphere in these past six months, playing for India and the feeling that you get wearing the team’s colours. That had become mental challenge and there were a lot of setbacks,” Pandya said during his appearance on ‘Chahal TV’ ahead of the series-opener.

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Watch the video here: 

Meanwhile, comeback man Hardik Pandya will be itching to get going in the second ODI in Lucknow after a washout in the first game. BCCI has decided to organise the last two matches of the series behind closed -door amid coronavirus threat.

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