23rd March 2016. Bengaluru is on its feet. The M.Chinnaswamy stadium wears a pulsating look – tense fans, mini meets on field – Bangladesh require 11 off the last over. It is young Hardik Pandya who has the responsibility of defending the total. This is the most important over of his life. This will get him etched in folklore, for the good or bad. Pandya is hit for two boundaries in the first three balls. Bangladesh fans are sensing an upset only to discover a paradox in the last three balls that follow. Pandya picks up two in two and the last one is an MS Dhoni sprint to get Mustafizur Rah

Cut to 2017 and these are moments that are still fresh in Hardik Pandya’s mind. There is a change in venue, change in clothing, situation not as daunting as it was during national duties but it is yet another final over hand-over to Pandya. This time in different blues – against Kolkata Knight Riders; the equation, 14 to defend in the final over. Pandya defends it for his side and Mumbai Indians top the charts heading to the Playoffs with their heads held high. How did Pandya plot the final over? How confident is he now after the final over he bowled in the 2016 World T20 against Bangladesh? How pumped up is he to repeat bowling heroics going into the Champions Trophy next month? Pandya answers it all in this chat for iplt20.com.

Pandya’s Eden Gardens bowling plan

On this wicket, when I went for 11 in my first over, I noticed that I was trying to change the pace too much. I went back and told myself that I had to get a couple of wickets when I bowl next. Fortunately in the 15th over, I bowled a length ball and was lucky to get the ball to nip around which yielded me a wicket. It was a crucial wicket at that point of time and it was good to strike timber.

Bowling at the death – pressure, but confidence aplenty?

Though we had already qualified, the pressure was there. It was important for me to have the confidence in my bowling and seal the game for the side. It is all about coming with a clear mindset and bowling the right deliveries at the right time. When I am bowling at the fag end or bowling a crucial final over like I did tonight, I make sure that my mind is at the right place and calm and composed during the point of delivery. Keeping a calm head helps you in doing the right thing. If you get hyper and excited you might end up doing the wrong things. I have not been bowling much but this was the ideal opportunity to get some bowling practice ahead of the playoffs.

Last over jitters & a 2016 World T20 reminisce

This last over was somewhat similar to the one I bowled against Bangladesh in the T20 World Cup. It is something that is still fresh in my mind and I don’t think anything has matched up to that level of pressure when it comes to bowling. That scenario was different, the stage was different, the pressure was there here too, but that is something that was at another level. I don’t think such a thing will happen again in my career. I feel proud about it, but I don’t want such overs again. It is better to finish the game early and not have that pressure again.

The final over blueprint against KKR

The first ball I bowled was a heavy bouncer to Umesh Yadav which I thought he won’t be expecting because in the previous over, Tim Southee was trying to bowl a lot of yorkers to him. I tried to hit him on the chest because he is a No.10 batsman at the end of the day. I had to back myself and come up with my best deliveries.

In the second ball I felt Trent Boult would be expecting a similar ball, but I bowled it slower that went for two runs. Then, I bowled it wide across the stumps and he couldn’t connect it. After that I surprised him with a bouncer that turned into a dot ball. By then he was already on the backfoot and I decided to bowl a wide yorker. I followed it up with a proper length ball since we had won the game by that time which again went for just one. That sealed it for our side.

From then (2016 WC) till now; Pandya an improved bowler?

I have improved as a bowler. I have been working constantly and am feeling pretty confident about it going forward. Good performances are helping me and it will keep me in good stead going into the Playoffs and the Champions Trophy. I am pretty eager to go and perform in the Champions Trophy. I know my bowling form is important for the national side. India comes first always and I am proud to represent India in the tournament.