Updated On: 14 August, 2023 03:30 PM IST | Srijanee Majumdar
Skipper Hardik Pandya admitted that his lack of rhythm and slow approach became a turning point as his team lost momentum during the back-10 overs during the fifth T20 International against West Indies on Sunday. (Pic: AFP)

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The Indian team under Pandya lost its first bilateral series in the shortest format the2-3 against the West Indies but the skipper harped on the positives, like emergence of youngsters like Tilak Varma and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
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On a slow track, Pandya defended his decision to bat first. "I believe that as a group we have to challenge ourselves. All these games are the games where we have to learn. We have spoken as a group that whenever we can take the hard way we will. In hindsight, one series here or there doesn`t matter but the commitment to the goal is important."

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Pandya knows that India will play World T20 in this part of the world but doesn`t want to look too far ahead. "It`s a long way. We have the ODI World Cup coming up. And sometimes losing is good. You get to learn a lot. And special mention for all the boys. They showed great character. Winning and losing is a part of the process and we are going to make sure we learn from that," he said.
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Some of his bowling changes were panned by critics but he said that he goes by his instincts. "It is what I feel at the moment, I don`t plan much. If I see a situation, whatever my gut says I follow, " Pandya said.

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One positive takeaway from the series was the emergence of the youngsters. Pandya praised newcomers Varma and Jaiswal for their lion-hearted effort. "They`ve got heart. That is something that`s very important in international cricket. Every youngster coming through has belief. That`s something I see very often now. Kudos to them, they came out and took responsibility. I can`t be happier as a captain," he concluded.
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