Hardik Pandya: Attack is best defence

India skipper Hardik Pandya said ldquoattack was the best defence on this wicketrdquo as his unbeaten 18ball 30run cameo helped India end the rainhit final T20I against New Zealand in a tie via DuckworthLewis method here on TuesdayChasing 161 to win India were struggling at 21 for three in 25 overs but Pandya smashed three boundaries and a six to take the visitors to 75 for four which proved to be at par with the DLS score when the match was called off due to rainThe two teams thus shared the honours with India clinching the threematch series 10 courtesy their 65run win in the second game on SundayThe opening game was washed out without a ball being bowled in WellingtonldquoWould have liked to win the game by playing the full overs but it is what it is At some point I felt attack is the best defence on this wicketrdquo Hardik said during the postmatch presentationldquoWe know the kind of bowling attacks they have it was very important to get those 1015 runs extra even though we lost a couple of wicketsldquoA game like this could have given us an opportunity to test some of the players but having said weather is something we cannot control Irsquom going home taking my time off and be with my sonrdquoNew Zealand were 130 for two in the 16th over but the duo of Arshdeep Singh 437 and Mohammed Siraj 417 triggered a collapse as the Kiwis were bowled out for 160 with two balls to spareDefending the total New Zealand reduced India to 21 for 3 in 25 oversSiraj was adjudged the Player of the Match for snapping 4 for 17 runsAlso ReadIndia win rainmarred T20 series after third match ends in tieHardik I am a peoplersquos manMeanwhile assuring that he is a people person Hardik Pandya is confident that he has the skills to take along players who he is forced to bench due to combination compulsionBut he understands that people donrsquot like sitting in the bench and there needs to be frank conversations where both captain and the player are able to express themselvesldquoItrsquos not difficult to handle the situation where players feel security I share a cordial rapport with all players and the players I am unable to pick there is nothing personal and even they know it It is because of combination I am not able to play themrdquo he saidldquoI am a peoplersquos man and if anyone feels otherwise my doors are always open to come and have chat with me I understand their feelings Sanju Samson is an unfortunate case We had to play him but for some strategic reason we couldnrsquot play himrdquo Pandya was frank in his admissionldquoIf players are feeling bad they can come and speak to me or the coachIf I remain the captainldquoGoing forward if I remain the captain I donrsquot think that will be an issue My behaviour and nature ensures that we are a closeknit unitrdquo he remarkedBrief scoresNew Zealand 160 all out in 194 overs D Conway 59 G Phillips 54 M Siraj 417 A Singh 437 v India 754 in 9 overs H Pandya 30 S Yadav 13 T Southee 227 Match tied DL methodThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever