India all-rounder Hardik Pandya feels the back injury he sustained in the Asia Cup is a ‘blessing in disguise’.
The 24-year-old had to be stretchered off the field after collapsing on the pitch while bowling in the clash against Pakistan and has been out of action ever since.
“It wasn’t about Pakistan. It was disappointing to get injured like that. You can’t control these things. Now I’ve got the time to get fitter and stronger. I always take things positively. This injury was a blessing in disguise. I got time off from cricket. After this, I won’t get much time off,” Pandya said in an interview with the Times of India.
“My recovery is on track. I’ve been busy with my fitness sessions and physiotherapy. I don’t know when (I’ll return to action), but right now I’m only focusing on getting fully fit,” he added.
Having made an electric start to his international career, Pandya has gone off the boil in the past year or so with many former cricketers like Sunil Gavaskar questioning his credentials as a seam bowling all-rounder.
Pandya, though, isn’t taking the criticism levelled at him in a negative way.
Pandya suffered an acute lower back injury in the Asia Cup.
“Why would it hurt? They’ve played so much cricket. Let them say it. It’s OK. I’ve heard them so much. I respect that. I’m worthy enough that they’re talking about me. If I wasn’t, they wouldn’t have said anything about me! I take it in a positive way,” he explained.
When asked which all-rounder he would like to emulate, Pandya replied: “I love Jacques Kallis. The way he managed his workload, the number of games.
“He played in all the formats of the game and was still fit. My goal is to be as fit as him.”
Though he remains sidelined due to injury, Pandya has already set his sights on winning the 2019 World Cup for India.
“My individual, and the team goal, right now is getting the World Cup back. It’s my biggest goal. I want to give more than 100 per cent to make sure that we win the World Cup,” the all-rounder said.
“That’s why right now, I’m focusing on improving my skills, fitness, mentally I want to get stronger. Because that 10-15 per cent (extra) would be very critical. I’ll give 100 per cent, but if I can give 10-15 per cent more to my game, then it would give me great comfort, and I’d be able to do a lot of things which I’m not able to do now,” he added.
