In a record-breaking performance, India crushed New Zealand by 168 runs in the decisive third T20I on Wednesday, marking their biggest-ever win by runs in T20 cricket. Shubman Gill put on a batting clinic, while captain Hardik Pandya led the bowling attack with a stellar 4/16 and added 30 runs off 17 balls. Pandya's consistent impact with both bat and ball earned him the Player of the Series title.
While Pandya is naturally an aggressive hitter, he has evolved his batting style to prioritize strike rotation over raw power. Speaking at a press conference, the T20I captain admitted to refining his game to better support his teammates, aiming to bring a sense of stability and calm to the crease through strong partnerships.
The all-rounder revealed that he is mirroring the strategy MS Dhoni used during his final years with the national team. Dhoni's approach involved rotating the strike to anchor the innings, which gave the other batsman the freedom to play more aggressively. Pandya noted that he is perfectly comfortable stepping into that specific role.
Pandya reflected on his growth, noting that in his younger days, he simply hit the ball everywhere. However, since Dhoni's departure, he feels the weight of that responsibility has fallen on him. He stated that he is happy to play a more measured role if it leads to victories for the team.