GALLE, July 31: The sense of occasion gets the better of many when it comes to Test debut but an unfazed Hardik Pandya felt as if he was �playing an ODI� during his whirlwind half-century in his maiden outing.
It was Pandya�s 50 off 49 balls that enabled India to reach 600 quickly, which gave skipper Virat Kohli an �extra 15 overs� to have a go at the Sri Lankan batsmen in the first Test.
Asked about his preparation coming into his first Test, Pandya said: �Even when I was batting, it felt like batting in one-dayers. The scenario was perfect for me. As an international cricketer, you need to be smart as in terms of preparation. While switching formats, there is a switch in mindset but skill sets generally don�t change.�
He has not given it a serious thought but Pandya won�t mind if he is able to emulate Yuvraj Singh�s six sixes in a single over.
Pandya�s senior Cheteshwar Pujara feels he can be the second Indian in international cricket, after Yuvraj, to achieve the rarest of rare milestone. Have you ever given it a thought, Pujara asked Pandya while conducting a fun interview for the bcci.tv.
�I don�t think about hitting six sixes in an over. I have hit three sixes off three balls but never went for the fourth one as the situation never demanded. If some day, we have a situation where I can go after all six balls, I might go for it,� said Pandya.
Pujara then asked him about his pull shots and Pandya returned the compliment.
�Your pull shots travel 100 metres Pujara bhai,� he said.
On trying the horizontal bat shots, Pandya said: �I never tried too many pull shots earlier. I am happy that it came off.�
Pandya said that he is aware that he needs to prepare well when India travel outside the sub-continent to places like South Africa and England.
�I know I would need to prepare differently for South Africa tour which won�t be an easy one. The ball would seam and you need to prepare accordingly.� � PTI
