“Absolutely to win the World Cup for India no matter what happens,” Hardik said. “I am gonna give it everything I have. Always been that kind of guy to put the team first. For me the goal will be simple: to make sure my team gets it the most.
“Playing for India has always been kind of dream come true no matter how many games I have played. It has always been a pleasure for me to represent the country. The kind of love and support I have got it is only from the Indian team point of view. Long term, short term, I want to win the World Cup no matter what happens.”
In the IPL, though, Hardik has won every time he has got to the playoffs stages, four times with Mumbai Indians and now with Gujarat Titans. Asked if this was a little extra special, Hardik said only just.
“Obviously this will be a little special because I have won it as a captain,” he said. “The four that I have won before this are equally special too. Winning IPL is always special. I consider myself very lucky that I have played five finals, and have lifted the trophy five times. Obviously this will leave a legacy because we are a new franchise, playing for the first time, and we are champions in the first season. But the four that I have won before this were equally special.”
“Specifically we both [Nehra and he] lean towards the bowlers,” Hardik said. “People say T20 is a batters’ game but I have always maintained that bowlers win you matches. Because if the batters don’t get a par score, if you have a gun bowling line-up, the bowlers can pull things back. We have always given 10 runs fewer. Even when others have conceded 190, we have gone for 10 fewer. Those 10 runs win or lose you matches in the bigger picture. For me and Ashu pa [Nehra], when we were starting, we wanted to create a strong and experienced bowling unit. So that even if there are times when batters don’t click, you can pull back with the bowling.”
