'I don't look at the scoreboard when I am batting'
13 Aug 2017 5:04 PM GMT
Pallekele: Overwhelmed to be compared with legendary Kapil Dev, all-rounder Hardik Pandya on Sunday said if he could become even 10 per cent of what the former World Cup winning captain was, he would be happy.
The chairman of selectors MSK Prasad has said that Hardik Pandya has the potential to match Kapil Dev, provided he stays grounded.
"Obviously 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 day's play.
Pandya (108) smashed his maiden Test century as India scored 487 and then forced Sri Lanka to follow-on after bowling them out for 135 in their first innings.
The all-rounder said he was in a different zone on Sunday while batting.
"First time in my life I have not had the 90s butterfly.
Otherwise, I don't remember previous centuries, but I used to have butterflies from what I can remember. In today's game when I batted I was in a different zone. "When I bat, I don't 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 revealed.
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