'Pehli baat toh bahar kaun kya...' - Hardik Pandya replies harshly to a journalist who asked about team selection in T20I series

Indian team has recently won the rain-affected three-match T20I series against New Zealand by a margin of 1-0 with an only win in the second T20I of the series. The team played under the captaincy of stand-in skipper Hardik Pandya in the absence of regular skipper Rohit Sharma alongside missing the senior players including the likes of Virat Kohli and KL Rahul.

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Notably, the approach of the Indian management was also under the scanner while picking up the playing XI of the team during the T20I series. The cricket fans looked unhappy with the decision of Hardik Pandya and management to bench the star wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson and young pace bowling sensation Umran Malik during the entire T20I series.

The stand-in skipper, Pandya was questioned about the same in a press conference after the last match between India and New Zealand. It looked like the question didn’t go pleasing with the Indian skipper and he came up with a harsh reply to the journalist instead of explaining the exact psyche of management to provide constant changes to the out-of-form players.

“Pehli baat toh bahar kaun kya bol raha hai usse ye level pe farak nahi nahi padta. Ye meri team hai, coach aur mujhe jo theek lagega, jo side hume chahiye hoga . (First things first, what people are saying outside, we are not really bothered. This is my team and I will decide who to play along with the coach. Whatever combination we think is best for the team we will play them),” said the 29-year-old in the aftermath of India’s series win against New Zealand.

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Shikhar Dhawan to lead India in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand

Now, Hardik Pandya will be back in action with the men in blue during the upcoming three-match ODI series against the Kiwis. Senior Indian southpaw Shikhar Dhawan is set to lead the team in the 50-over series. Both teams will lock horns in the first ODI of the series on Friday, the 25^th of November at Eden Park in Auckland.

Following the conclusion of New Zealand, the Indian team will be in action on the tour of Bangladesh, starting with the first ODI on Monday, the 4^th of December.