Hardik Pandya eyes Dhoni-style anchor role

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya feels he has developed the ability to absorb pressure and doesn't mind playing the anchoring role that the great Mahendra Singh Dhoni played for the team.

Pandya, 29, who is known for his batting pyrotechnics, says he has now learnt to take the back seat and anchor the innings, something master chaser Dhoni did in the fag end of his career. "To be honest, I've always enjoyed hitting sixes, but I have to evolve, that's life," the stand-in T20I skipper said at the press conference after India sealed the T20I series against New Zealand 2-1.

"I want to give my team and the other person the assurance that I'm there. I've played more games than any of the guys out there. I've learnt how to accept and swallow pressure and make sure the team is calm," added Pandya.

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Dhoni is known for his calm demeanour and Pandya feels now it's his responsibility to step into the legendary wicketkeeper's shoes, and he's ready to sacrifice his strike-rate to play that role. "Maybe I have to get my strike rate down. Taking new opportunities is [something] I've always looked forward to. I don't mind coming in and playing the role which somewhere down the line Maahi [Dhoni] used to play. Earlier, I was young and was hitting all around the park, but now since he has gone, that responsibility has come to me," added Pandya, who has scored 1271 runs at a strike-rate of 142.17 in 87 T20Is.

In the third T20I v NZ, Pandya did just that, allowing the in-form Shubman Gill (126) to take the attack to the opposition as India posted 234 for 4 and then bowled out NZ for 66.

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