Sanju Samson is an unfortunate case: Hardik Pandya

The
Baroda
man
was
his
second
T20I
series
in
charge.
Ahead
of
the
NZ
T20I
series,
Pandya
had
led
the
side
against
Ireland
in
June.

The
all-rounder,
being
considered
to
replace
Rohit
Sharma
in
the
shortest
form
of
the
game,
said
that
if
considered
for
the
leadership
role
in
the
future,
he
will
captain
the
side
in
his
own
way
and
his
team
will
display
the
brand
of
cricket
he
knows
the
best.

During
the
post-match
presentation
ceremony,
Hardik
was
asked
how
he
perceives
the
views
of
Sunil
Gavaskar
or
Ravi
Shastri,
who
sees
in
him
a
long-term
captain.
“If
people
are
saying,
you
feel
good
about
it
but
till
something
happens
(official
announcement),
you
can’t
say,”
Pandya
said
after
the
rain-hit
third
T20
on
Tuesday.

“To
be
honest,
my
thing
is
simple,
if
I
do
one
match
or
one
series,
I
will
lead
the
team
my
way,
how
I
see
and
perceive
the
game.
Whenever
I
am
given
the
opportunity,
I
will
always
go
out
and
play
the
brand
of
cricket
I
know.
As
a
unit,
we
will
display
my
brand.
As
far
as
whatever
(captaincy)
comes
in
future,
we
will
see,”
the
Baroda
player
stated.

One
of
the
hotly
debated
topics
was
that
flamboyant
batter
Sanju
Samson
and
speed
merchant
Umran
Malik
wasn’t
picked
in
the
playing
XI
during
the
series.
Talking
about
it,
Pandya
insisted
that
there
is
“enough
time”
for
everyone
to
get
“enough
opportunities”
and
a
“long
rope”.

“Had
it
been
a
bigger
series
and
not
three
games,
we
could
have
played
them.
But
I
don’t
believe
in
chop
and
change
in
a
short
series
and
going
forward
also
that
will
be
my
philosophy,”
he
added.

But
he
understands
that
people
don’t
like
sitting
in
the
bench
and
there
needs
to
be
frank
conversations
where
both
captain
and
the
player
are
able
to
express
themselves.

“It’s
not
difficult
to
handle
the
situation
where
players
feel
security.
I
share
a
cordial
rapport
with
all
players
and
the
players
I
am
unable
to
pick,
there
is
nothing
personal
and
even
they
know
it.
It
is
because
of
combination
I
am
not
able
to
play
them,”
he
said.

“I
am
a
people’s
man
and
if
anyone
feels
otherwise,
my
doors
are
always
open
to
come
and
have
chat
with
me.
I
understand
their
feelings.
Sanju
Samson
is
an
unfortunate
case.
We
had
to
play
him
but
for
some
strategic
reason,
we
couldn’t
play
him,”
he
was
frank
in
his
admission.

The
discussions,
no
matter
how
frank
it
is,
players
who
miss
out
are
bound
to
feel
bad
and
Pandya
empathises
with
them.
“I
can
understand
that
if
I
stand
in
his
shoes
that
even
if
you
are
continuously
benched
for
India.
It
is
difficult,
as
much
as
I
speak
to
them,
it’s
no
consolation
for
not
playing,
but
at
same
time,
if
I
can
repeat
the
point
and
keep
healthy
atmosphere,
it’s
fine.”

“If
players
are
feeling
bad,
they
can
come
and
speak
to
me
or
the
coach.
Going
forward,
if
I
remain
the
captain,
I
don’t
think
that
will
be
an
issue.
My
behaviour
and
nature
ensures
that
we
are
a
close-knit
unit.”

Wanted
to
check
out
sixth
bowling
option

Pandya
didn’t
bowl
in
the
two
completed
New
Zealand
innings
and
there
was
a
specific
aim
behind
the
move.
He
wanted
to
get
a
hang
of
India’s
sixth
bowling
option
and
he
found
on
in
Deepak
Hooda,
who
had
figures
of
4/10
in
the
65-run
win
in
the
second
game.

“I
did
what
the
team
required
and
on
this
tour.
I
wanted
my
sixth
bowling
option
to
get
a
fair
go
and
in
this
series
and
we
have
Deepak.
If
I
start
bowling,
then
that
guy
(sixth
option)
doesn’t
get
a
chance
to
bowl.
Today
we
played
with
only
five
batters
and
my
aim
was
to
ensure
that
each
batter
takes
additional
responsibility.

“So
when
you
know
that
you
have
one
batter
down
the
order,
and
you
still
can
attack
and
play
the
aggressive
game,
you
get
different
kind
of
confidence,”
he
said.

A
similar
thing
applied
for
bowlers
also.
“Siraj
did
exactly
what
I
wanted
from
him
on
this
pitch.
Look,
in
T20s,
you
will
get
hit.
You
will
have
your
good
and
bad
days.
But
if
you
go
and
defensive
and
get
hit,
that
will
be
a
trauma.
So
zyada
se
zyada
kya
hoga.
You
will
lose,
concede
200
runs.
But
on
the
flip
side,
if
you
continue
attacking,
you
will
have
days
like
today
(8
wickets
for
30
runs),”
the
Indian
skipper
signed
off.

Source:
PTI