Hardik Pandya: I don't look at the scoreboard when I am batting

Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya celebrates after he dismissed Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews during the second day of the third and final Test match between Sri Lanka and India at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on August 13 2017 PicAFPOverwhelmed to be compared with legendary Kapil Dev allrounder Hardik Pandya today said if he could become even 10 per cent of what the former World Cupwinning captain was he would be happyThe chairman of selectors MSK Prasad has said that Hardik Pandya has the potential to match Kapil Dev provided he stays groundedObviously my focus is to play my cricket and just become what I can become Even if I can be 10 per cent of what Kapil Dev was I will be pretty happy in my life Pandya said at the press conference at the end of second days playPandya 108 smashed his maiden Test century as India scored 487 and then forced Sri Lanka to followon after bowling them out for 135 in their first inningsThe allrounder said he was in a different zone today while batting First time in my life I have not had the 90s butterflyOtherwise I dont remember previous centuries but I used to have butterflies from what I can remember In todays game when I batted I was in a different zoneWhen I bat I dont think about my personal scores and achievements It has helped me enough One thing I learned from Mahi bhai Mahendra Singh Dhoni is that you always put your team ahead see the scoreboard and play accordingly That has helped me throughout Pandya revealedPandya said he never thought he could steal 26 runs from the over of Malinda PushpakumaraIt just happened honestly I didnt want to go all over but dont know what happened May be I was connecting pretty well so I thought let me try and I scored 26 runs It obviously feels good he saidFrom there I saw the scoreboard and I was batting on 80 and I was like wow Then I noticed I was in the zone I dont usually look at the scoreboard I dont want to know whats happening around I just focus on how I can help the innings progressStating that he took calculative risks Pandya said Nine wickets were already down and I knew if I stay in the crease and connect the ball well it would go for six Even if I were to miss hit I had to I had no choice It was an ideal opportunity and obviously there was a teams goal and which was to reach 400run target and we scored close to 490When me and Wriddhi Wriddhiman Saha went in we played normally Once he got out still Kuldeep Yadav was there and I could take singles with him Even Shami and Umesh can bat but you also know that when you have one wicket left you play a different game when you have three wickets you play differently I just batted according to the situationPandya who made his Test debut in Galle and scored his maiden halfcentury also chipped in with vital wickets at key intervals in the ongoing seriesGod has been pretty kind to me I am pretty lucky I got things pretty quickly in life I am just happy I have worked hard enough and I am getting whatever I have worked hard for Test cricket is not easyI am pretty lucky to have such team and such people who are supporting me and backing me all out and showing the confidence They have given me all the freedom to play the way I can and thats the best thing to have happened he saidPandya pointed out how this innings was special as he had always harboured dreams of playing Test cricket for IndiaWhenever a kid starts playing in India he doesnt think of oneday cricket Test cricket is always the goal I am not sure about now but when I was little I always wanted to play Test cricket The name is Test because it is a difficult format it tests your patience fitness temperament etcTalking about his bowling the 23yearold said In Test cricket you need to be disciplined and keep bowling in one place and eventually the wicket is going to do something In Ranji Trophy you might get helpful wickets where you get a fivewicket haul in 10 overs as well But in Test cricket it is differentYou need to make sure you bowled disciplined lines and play on the patience of the batsmen One ball might do something and you get a wicket