Hardik Pandya: I have been hitting sixes since childhood

Hardik Pandya

He has become the cynosure of all eyes with his six-hitting prowess but Hardik Pandya says it's not a skill he has developed overnight as he has been clearing the ropes easily since childhood. During the first ODI in Chennai, Pandya had taken leg-spinner Adam Zampa to the cleaners while in the series-clinching ODI on Sunday, he came up with big shots against left-arm spinner Ashton Agar at a crucial juncture.

Asked if his bludgeoning 76-run knock against Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final was the turning point for him, Pandya politely made a statement. "If you want to think that way, you can, I have no problems. I played well in the IPL before that. Last year's IPL wasn't great for me, so I worked hard, and the form came back.

"And I used to hit sixes before too, it's just that I am hitting them at a higher level now. I have been hitting sixes since childhood otherwise," Pandya said.

Further talking about his ability to hit sixes at will, Pandya said: "It's not just about hitting. It's pretty important that I read the game as well."

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