'I am enjoying my cricket right now': Hardik Pandya after his heroics in the first T20I

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya said he's enjoying his cricket post his comeback to the national team.

In the first T20I of the ongoing three-match T20I series between England and India, Pandya's all-round show helped the visitors complete a comprehensive victory over England. With the bat, he first scored his maiden half-century in T20Is, and then followed it up with the figures of 4/33 with the ball to help his team win the first T20I and take a lead of 1-0 in the series.

Hardik was adjudged as the man of the match for his brilliant display with the bat and ball. Talking about his performance in the post-match presentation, Pandya recalls his first tour to England in 2018, when he scored 33 off 14 deliveries and also picked up four wickets in the third T20I in Bristol.

"The last time I played a T20 in England, I think I took 4 wickets and scored some 30. So I kind of knew I was the first Indian to score fifty and take 4 wickets. I am enjoying my cricket right now," Hardik Pandya was quoted as saying in the post-match presentation ceremony.

After his back issues that led to his struggles in the T20 World Cup 2021, Pandya worked on his fitness at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and did not play any international series until his return in the last home series against South Africa. The break seems to have worked out well for Pandya, as he's been in great form with the ball and bat. Pandya said he needed some time away from the game, and he's looking to capitalize on every opportunity following his comeback.

"For me, a lot of time goes into the preparation to get my body ready. The kind of break I took before this run of play, I want to capitalize on the opportunities. I felt I needed that break. It is about giving your 100% and when you don't do that, there is no point playing. So I needed that break and now I am happy to be in this place right now," Pandya added.

Pandya is enjoying a stellar run in T20I cricket this year. He has featured in eight games, scoring 205 runs at an average of 51.25 and a blistering strike rate of 157.69. With the ball, he has picked five wickets, four of which came in the first T20I against England at the Ageas Bowl.