Didn't have the 90s butterfly: Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya says he doesn’t even remember the last time he got a century – at the Under-19 level, is all he is sure of – but he showed no signs of nerves as he thundered through the 90s on his way to his maiden Test ton on Sunday.

The bruising right-hand batsman lit up the second day of the final Test with a memorable assault on Sri Lanka’s hapless bowlers, stunning them into shocked silence with a power-packed exhibition of squeaky-clean hitting. His hundred came off just 86 deliveries, the last 50 of those in the company of the last man.

“For the first time in my life, I have not had the 90s butterfly,” said the man who hasn’t, obviously, made it a habit yet of stacking up the hundreds. “Otherwise – I don’t remember previous centuries – but I used to have butterflies from how much I can remember. My last hundred I scored in Under-19s, some four-five years back. Actually, I don’t remember when I scored the hundred. But in today’s game, I was in a different zone. When I bat, I don’t think about my personal scores and achievements. It has helped me enough.”

On his way to his century, Pandya took 26 off one Malinda Pushpakumara over, the most runs an Indian batsman has scored in a single over in Test cricket. “It just happened,” he said. “Honestly, I didn’t want to go all out in that over but I don’t know what happened. Maybe I was connecting pretty well, let me try this over, and I scored 26 runs. It obviously feels good. From there, I saw the score board and I was batting on 80 and I was like, wow! Then I noticed I was in the zone, I don’t usually look at the score board, I don’t want to know what’s happening around. I just focus on how I can help the innings progress.”

Under that happy-go-lucky veneer is obviously someone who thinks deeply about his game. Pandya relived his approach on the second morning, which he resumed on one out of an Indian tally of 329 for 6. “When me and Wriddhi(man Saha) went in, obviously Wriddhi is a batsman and I am a batsman as well, so we could play normally. We played normally. Once Wriddhi got out, still Kuldeep was there, and I could take singles with him. Even Shami and Umesh can bat, but you also know that when you have one wicket left, you play a different game; when you have three wickets, you play differently. I just batted according to the situation.

“Could there have been a bigger opportunity than that?” he asked of the spread fields from Dinesh Chandimal when the last Indian pair was in the middle of its 66-run alliance. “Nine wickets were already down and I knew, if stay at the crease and connect the ball well, it would go for six. Even if I were to mis-hit, I had to (go for it). I had no choice. It was an ideal opportunity and obviously there was a team’s goal which was to set them a 400-run target. We scored close to 490, I was taking a calculated risk.”

Things have gone swimmingly for Pandya since his Test debut in Galle on July 26. “I am pretty glad, God has been pretty kind to me,” he said, humbly. “I am pretty lucky I got things pretty quickly in life. I am just happy for that. I have worked hard enough and I am getting whatever I have worked hard for. It is not easy but I don’t mind it as well.”

Pretty much pigeonholed into the Twenty20 and 50-over compartment, Pandya’s graph is gradually climbing upwards following his exploits in the Test arena too. “I am pretty lucky to have such a team and such people who are supporting me and backing me all out,” he admitted. “Showing the confidence that they are showing in me, obviously it feels nice when all these things happen to you. They have given me all the freedom to play the way I can and that’s the best thing to have happened. I am enjoying my cricket and I thank the captain and the team management for showing that confidence in me.”

The weight of expectations will increase with such efforts, but Pandya is determined not to be burdened by extraneous factors. “The best part about this team is we let the players enjoy the game. Right now, I am enjoying my game. No pressure as such. I believe pressure only gives you (more) pressure and nothing else. I’d rather avoid the pressure and play freely.”