Group India skipper Hardik Pandya not too long ago acknowledged that whereas he’s okay with dropping a few matches, he needs to organize his group to win crunch video games. The feedback got here after the primary T20I towards Sri Lanka on the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Tuesday, January 3.

A brand new daybreak started in Indian cricket underneath Hardik because the suppose tank plans to organize a younger squad for the following T20 World Cup, which is 2 years away.

The Males in Blue have struggled to carry out properly in essential video games, crashing out of ICC occasions within the knockouts. They not too long ago bowed out of the T20 World Cup in Australia after dropping to England by 10 wickets within the semi-finals.

Talking on the finish of the sport, Hardik confused that he needs the gamers to undergo tough conditions, which is able to put together them for vital video games.

“I need to put this group into tough conditions as a result of that can assist us in large video games,” he stated. “Bilaterals is one thing we’re good at. I am okay with dropping a couple of video games right here and there however the principle purpose is to be ready for the large moments.”

The primary T20I ebbed and flowed as Sri Lanka put up a valiant effort with the bat to deliver the equation all the way down to 13 runs required off the ultimate over.

Whereas it regarded like Hardik would bowl the ultimate over, the Indian skipper handed the ball to left-arm spinner Axar Patel, who did properly to defend the goal and assist the hosts win the sport by two runs.

“I informed him to again his strengths” – Hardik Pandya on Shivam Mavi

Debutant Shivam Mavi starred with the ball for India, returning with figures of 4/22 from his 4 overs. He picked up a few wickets within the powerplay earlier than returning to dismiss the dangerous-looking Wanindu Hasaranga. The Uttar Pradesh-born cricketer additionally eliminated Maheesh Theekshana to finish his four-wicket haul.

Hardik showered reward on Mavi and stated that he requested the teenager to again his abilities.

“To be sincere, the younger ones bought us in a state of affairs to win the sport,” he added. “I’ve seen him (Mavi) within the IPL. I informed him to again his strengths. It is okay if you happen to get hit. I am backing you all the way in which.”

Mavi will hope to proceed his stellar kind when India lock horns with Sri Lanka within the second T20I in Pune on Thursday, January 5.

Additionally Learn: “I didn’t sleep properly” – Hardik Pandya shares replace on his damage throughout 1st T20I vs Sri Lanka