It takes a lot of effort to come and perform in Test cricket. However, it requires sheer hard work to continue living up to the expectations.
Hardik Pandya knows that for sure.
The young Baroda all-rounder, who played in his maiden Test series in Sri Lanka, impressed one and all with his all-round capabilities so much so that captain Virat Kohli termed his inclusion as the "biggest positive" after India completed a 3-0 clean sweep over Sri Lanka.
Pandya surely packed a punch in this series and his numbers prove that he is one of India's rising stars. In the three Tests, Pandya amassed 178 runs with an average of 59.33, including a hundred and a fifty. The 23-year-old, who plays for Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League, also bagged 4 wickets in the series.
Pandya's (108) smashed his maiden Test century and laid the foundation for India's victory by an innings and 171 runs in the third Test. He won the Man of the Match award for his brilliant show.
"I am glad that I got my first hundred here, I didn't have a first-class hundred before coming here. The situation was pretty good for me when I went in and I knew that I could back my instincts," Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
Content with his performance in the series, Pandya said he wants to continue the hard work. He also acknowledged the support of his teammates.
"I have to keep working harder. I am pretty alright to bat wherever the teams wants me to. This team is pretty amazing. Everyone backs me to do well," he said.
