Hardik Pandya hopes to comeback as all-rounder in ODI series vs Oz

Ahmedabad: Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who is out of the Indian cricket team for almost two months now, on Tuesday said that he has started bowling and batting practice and was hopeful of making a come-back in the national squad before the ODI series in Australia in January next year.

Talking to media here on the sidelines of a product launch, Hardik, who due to sudden lower back injury during his bowling in the Asia cup match against Pakistan on September 19 was taken out of the field on a stretcher, said that he has started bowling and batting practice at his own in Mumbai for last around a week.

 'I am feeling much better now and want to make a come back in the team as soon as possible after getting fully fit. I feel that my bowling practice is great which gives me hope that my comeback would also be a great one. I think that I will be back in the ODI squad for series in Australia in January,' he said.

Talking about the India-Australia Test and T 20 series, for which he was not in the team, Hardik said that India with so many good players was a good side while Australia which always performed well in its 'backyard'. But the side who played well on the match day would make it. 'I will as an audience enjoy the matches,' he said.

To a query he said that cricket was his first love but he also enjoyed shooting for ad films. He however denied that he felt any performance pressure on the field due to endorsements. 'When on the field I only focus on giving my 100 pc and the team's victory. I never feel any kind of pressure from any company for which I do the ad,' Hardik added.

To another query he said that he felt good about being an 'youth icon' and knew that they watch him all the time. He wanted to do things from which the youths could learn.(UNI)