“Stop thinking of your score,” MS Dhoni’s advice to Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya expressed his gratitude to former captain MS Dhoni for helping him develop as a cricketer during a talk with Player of the Match Dinesh Karthik.

Hardik Pandya, who is on a blitz, has shared how guidance from former India captain M.S. Dhoni early in his career helped him greatly in his development as a player.

His selection followed a fantastic IPL season with the Gujarat Titans, when he showcased his form and fitness by guiding them to the championship in their first season. In the IPL 2022, he scored 487 runs while also taking 8 wickets.

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In a video posted on the BCCI  after the match, Pandya explained to Dinesh Karthik the lesson he received from Dhoni that has helped him progress as a player.

“In my early days, I asked Mahi bhai one question. I asked him how he gets away from pressure, and he gave me some very simple advice — ‘stop thinking about your own score and start thinking about what your team requires’. From very early, that lesson has stuck to my mind and helped me become the kind of player I am now,” Hardik said in a video uploaded by BCCI.tv.

During the recent five-match series, the all-rounder has been in superb batting form, hitting 117 runs with a strike rate of 153.94 and an average of 58.50 in four matches. His partnership with Dinesh Karthik was instrumental in India scoring a competitive total in the fourth T20I at Rajkot, bringing the series to a 2-2 tie.

Pandya also praised Karthik, who has made a remarkable recovery in the side, referencing him as a “inspiration.”

“I need to tell you this, genuinely I want to tell you this, you have given a lot of inspiration to many guys in their life. I remember the conversation you were having when you were not in the scheme of things, a lot of people counted you out,” he said.