The flamboyant Indian all-rounder, Hardik Pandya on Monday revealed how he forced himself to come out and bowl in the second game of the 2021 T20 World Cup despite being picked in the squad as a batter. Recalling the tournament, he acknowledge that he felt the pressure was on him amid criticisms that India was missing the sixth-bowling option after their 1o-wicket loss to Pakistan in their tournament opener.

One of the primary concerns for Team India in the game against Pakistan was their lack of bowling depth. Speaking on Backstage with Boria, Hardik clarified that he was picked a batter in the squad and not as an all-rounder before admitting that he felt some vibe that “everything was thrown at” him. He further added that despite not being able to and not being advised to, he came out to bowl in the second game pushed himself to bowl in the second game for the team.

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During the conversation, Hardik Pandya said, “I was kind of getting the sense or vibe that a lot of things came on me. Obviously that is fine. I play the sport, I get the…but the position in which we were and when I went, I felt everything was kept on me, everything was thrown at me. I didn’t bowl, yes, but I was selected in the team as a batsman.”

He further added, “I worked really hard to bowl in the first game, which obviously I was not able to. I got hit the first game and in the second game when I pulled, I wasn’t supposed to go. I pushed for my team but eventually setbacks as you said things happen.”

Hardik Pandya has long been sustaining a back injury which saw him playing as a batter through a major part of 2021. He had even played solely as a batter for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in IPL 2021. However, he did bowl for India in the two T20 World Cup matches against Afghanistan and New Zealand, conceding 40 runs for no wickets.

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The flamboyant all-rounder wasn’t picked in the subsequent series for India as he continues to recover from the injury. However, the Baroda-based cricketer is raring to make a comeback in IPL 2022 as an all-rounder.

Explaining the same, Hardik Pandya said, “I want to play as an all-rounder. If something goes bad, then I don’t know but my preparations are all about playing as an all-rounder. I am feeling good, feeling strong and eventually, the time will say what happens.”