NEW DELHI: India’s new T20 skipper Hardik Pandya disclosed on Monday that there couldn’t be any bigger “New Year Resolution” for him than winning the World Cup.
“The biggest is to win the World Cup. I don’t think any bigger resolution can be there. Really want to win the World Cup, so we will try to do everything possible in our capacity… to go out there and give everything. I think things are looking bright and let’s hope it is,” Hardik said on the eve of the three-match T20 series against Sri Lanka.
Hardik said that he would ideally like his band of men to never deviate from the template of fearless cricket. Hardik also didn’t shy away from admitting that tinkering of approach during the T20 World Cup did affect the team.

“Before the World Cup, I don’t think we did anything wrong. Our template, our approach, our everything was the same. Just that in the World Cup, things did not go the way we wanted and I think our approach was not exactly what it was before the World Cup,” Hardik said.
His advice to the team is simple — go out and express yourself.
“What we have noticed and what we have told the boys is that just go out there and express yourself, which they will do and it’s up to us how we back them. We have said we will back you to the core. All the players have that support from my side that I will back them to the core. I have to make them believe that,” the all-rounder said.

The new skipper knows that T20Is aren’t a priority in ODI World Cup year and they only have six shortest format games (three vs New Zealand after this series) before IPL but going forward, youngsters will get enough chances to feel secured.
“We are looking to play in a certain way which we will. Before the IPL, only six games are there. So we don’t have much time to do a lot of things. But, going forward, we will keep creating new plans and see which plans are sticking and which are working for us. And, going forward, make sure that everyone gets ample opportunities,” Hardik said.
A serious prospect like Umran Malik would certainly get his share of chances.

“Obviously, he (Umran) has pace. Everyone knows how much of an exciting prospect he is. We will give him enough opportunities, give him enough backing and support from our side so that he can flourish.”
India’s bowling in T20Is has been a problem since Jasprit Bumrah’s injury and skipper’s mantra is simple.
“Just ask my bowlers to bowl the best balls possible. And I think, playing at the international level, they are good enough to bowl those.”
For Hardik, each and every accomplishment of his is due to the enormous hard work he has put in and that resulted in a great 2022 for him in T20 Internationals.
“Obviously one year back, things were quite different. When I went out of the sport (because of lower back stress fracture), that was my call to go out and spend time and get better at it. It has been a magical year for me, obviously (I) would have liked the World Cup to come with it. But that is part and parcel of life. We tried but it did not happen, but going forward what is next and what I want to achieve, there is a lot to achieve. I have not achieved anything,” Hardik said.
On managing his bowling workload, Hardik says the only “language” he knows is “language of hard work”.
“See, I know the language of hard work. I don’t think I have known any other language in my life. I have been thrown here and there, the only thing that has got me back is my hard work. How I manage it is through my hard work.
“I believe in my processes, which have got me here and I am sitting here. So going forward as well, the only thing which I’m going to focus on is to make sure that I give my body ample chance to be out there and be at my best,” he concluded.
(With inputs from PTI)