“Obviously I’ve enjoyed bowling,” Hardik said after India took a 2-1 lead. “Again, I’ve mentioned it several times, that’s why I felt I should take some time off to make sure my bowling is going well, because I’ve realized that when I bowl, it gives a lot of balance to the side; it gives a lot of confidence to the captain.
“Yeah, I used to bowl. I was a filler in between when someone isn’t bowling well. I can probably say now I can bowl four overs as a third or fourth seamer where I can contribute just as much as I do with the bat .”
“For me, it’s the approach I take,” Hardik said. “I understood that if you enjoy life and are in a state of mind where you are positive, the result often ends up coming your way. So for me it’s not about the result. It’s about how I take the game, how smart I think and how to make sure I use the situation and condition[s] who offers me something with the bat or the ball.”
“How we bowl in the middle overs [was pleasing]said Rohit. “I think that was very, very crucial, because they were about to get so big [opening] partnership and with some of their experienced players hitting in the middle and I thought we used the conditions really well. We used our variations quite well and how we chased the runs I thought it was quite clinical.”
The appointment of T20I’s vice-captain for the West Indies tour has taken his game to a new level, Hardik said. Earlier this year, he led Gujarat Titans to IPL glory in their first season, then oversaw India’s 2-0 sweep of a spirited Irish side in Malahide.
“I’ve always enjoyed responsibility and it has added more and more to my game,” said Hardik. “Every time I’ve taken responsibility it has added a little more flair to my game because it makes me think more and when I think more it just adds more value to my cricket.”
“Of course, very privileged to have the opportunity to be vice-captain,” Hardik said. “If the captain gives you a lot of flexibility and a lot of freedom, which is his strength during his captaincy, when I’ve played with him… team together and make sure a lot of positive mentality comes in and at the same time players feel safe. They don’t look over their shoulder, make sure they get plenty of opportunities, and they’re told that when they’re not playing.”