Veteran India spinner R Ashwin praised Hardik Pandya for answering a tricky question regarding Sanju Samson in MS Dhoni’s style in the post-match conference after the end of the T20 series in New Zealand. He said that since Pandya and Dhoni are quite close, it might have helped him as well.
![Hardik Pandya](https://cricshots.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/hardik-pandya-napier-press.jpg)
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ashwin said: “I don’t know if he wanted to say that in Thala Dhoni’s style because we all know that Hardik is super close to Thala Dhoni. He handled a tricky question that is always trending on social media very beautifully. So, kudos to Hardik. He knows it’s not personal. It’s got to do with the situation. I am a peoples’ person. So if anyone needs me, I will be there for them. Everyone knows that if they feel anything at all, my doors are always open for them to come and have a chat with me, because I understand how they are feeling.”
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![Hardik Pandya](https://cricshots.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/hardik-pandya-virat-t20-wc-2022.jpg)
Meanwhile, Sanju Samson remained unbeaten in India’s last assignment against South Africa, scoring 118 runs in three games. Ashwin further lauded Hardik Pandya for his quick-fire 30 against New Zealand in the third T20I, as the match ended in a tie according to the DLS method as well. He said that the stand-in captain’s intent with the bat made sure India did not lag behind the par score. Pandya came in when India struggled at 21/3 in 2.5 overs. He scored 30 runs in just 18 balls to take India to a par score of 75/4 in nine overs as well.
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“Hardik Pandya replicated what he did for Gujarat Titans with the bat. He came out with all guns blazing. That was the only reason the match got tied,” R Ashwin concluded.