JOIN US'Here for the long haul'
Manish Pandey has got all the ingredients a limited-overs cricketer needs. Fearless in batting and a tiger on the field who rarely lets a ball pass by, the Bengalurean has gone on to become a vital component in the Indian team that has risen to No 1 in the world in ODIs too.
His breath-taking 104 not out off just 81 balls against Australia in Sydney in January last year and the stupendous catch he pulled off at the boundary line in Indore in the last game against the same opponents to dismiss Peter Handscomb is a sample of what the exciting 28-year-old brings to the table. He is undoubtedly amongst the top talents in the country.
But Pandey, who missed out on a maiden Champions Trophy appearance after being laid low by a left side strain, lives a high pressure life where every performance is scrutinised, thanks to the abundance of talent India possesses in its armoury. While good efforts are rightfully appreciated, a few low scores draw plenty of unwanted attention as well. Although he’s got the backing of the team management at the moment, it’s not an ideal situation to be in for a budding international cricketer still finding his way.
Pandey, though, believes that’s part and parcel of an Indian cricketer’s life and he’s ready to grab his chance with both hands. “When you play cricket, there is pressure,” said Pandey at his home ground Chinnaswamy stadium on Tuesday. “Whether you are batting, bowling or fielding, there’s always pressure. That’s part of the game. But I am here to try and stay here for the longest, play a lot of games and win a lot of games for India. There is pressure, but there is a spot for the taking. So I think I’ll be doing the hard work to try and find a place here. I think so far I’ve got No 4 and there are times where batting order has changed a little bit. I will be looking to play most of the games in that order and do well for the team.”
Another hardship for Pandey, like many others in the squad, is to cope with the ongoing World Cup 2019 experimentation. In a bid to identity the core bunch, skipper Virat Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri have been constantly tampering with the squad and positions of the batting order. Pandey, however, said he feels secure and is looking forward to making a strong case for himself. “I think the situation has not come to me yet. But, if it’s for the betterment of the team, as you say we are trying to make a bunch which is ready to play the next World Cup, you have to give enough chances to people. I think I’m one of the guys who’s getting his chances right now. I think I should be focussing on trying to use the situations and use the opportunities I have in my hand and do well for myself and the team.”
Pandey is known for his unorthodox and fearless hitting in the domestic circuit and IPL and the Bengalurean said his plan now is to blend caution with aggression. “I think mindset remains the same but I think according to the situation I have to bat. You have to play the situation well. It’s completely different when you play at No 4, 3 or 6. What I’ve done fairly well is I’ve taken the (right) mindset to the game every time I go to bat. It’s about being aggressive, about taking a little time initially and then playing shots, because I think when I start seeing the ball well and I’ve spent enough time on the wicket, it feels a little easier. That’s what my game is and I would want to continue that way.”