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.

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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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.