With India set to take on New Zealand in the upcoming series, former Indian cricketer VVS Laxman, who is the head coach for the current series, praised interim captain Hardik Pandya. Pandya is being touted as a future T20I captain for the Men in Blue. The all-rounder impressed many with his leadership skills in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 – where he guided Gujarat Titans (GT) to a maiden IPL title win.
At a press conference on November 17, Laxman praised Pandya and said he was a captain who leads by example and the players also confide in him
“He is a fabulous leader. We have seen what he has done in IPL. I have spent time with him from Ireland. His presence and work ethic are exemplary. He is a player’s captain and is approachable. Players confide in him. He leads by example,” he said.
Pandya was named India’s T20I captain with regular skipper Rohit Sharma being rested for the New Zealand series. Along with Sharma, several others Indian players have been rested for the New Zealand series following the Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.
While the grounds in New Zealand are comparatively smaller, the conditions are challenging for bowlers and fielders.
Sharing his views on the grounds in New Zealand, Laxman added, “It is not about the smaller grounds, but the dimensions of the ground. In Wellington and Aukland, there are not normal cricket grounds. The best part of international cricket is that you have to adapt to conditions and situations. I am sure the team will do that. Based on the strengths and weakness of the opponents, you need to create a strategy and execute it perfectly,” he added.
