Hardik Pandya explains the selection calls after triumphant T20I campaign in New Zealand

Hardik Pandya with the trophy [Source: Twitter]

On Tuesday, India clinched the three-match T20I series against New Zealand by 1-0, as the final match in Napier was called off midway due to a persistent downpour. 

Fans and experts had expected India to test their bench strength in this series as a part of their preparations for the next T20 World Cup. However, the Indian think tank persisted with the seniors and benched the likes of Sanju Samson and Umran Malik, which wasn't appreciated by the cricket fraternity. 

After the series win, the stand-in India captain Hardik Pandya explained that he doesn't believe in changing the combination frequently, which is why India fielded the same XI throughout the series. 

Pandya, the front-runner in the race for the new Indian T20I captain, stressed that the benched players would've got ample chances had the series been a little longer. The 29-year-old also reverberated that he emphasises clear communication and allows his teammates to question him whenever they feel insecure about their place in the team. 

Here's what Pandya stated

"This is my team, firstly. The coach and I will pick the team we feel is right. There's a lot of time, everyone will get a chance, and when they do, they will get an extended run. But it's difficult since this was a short series. If it had been a long series, more players would have got a chance. It was a short series, and I don't believe in chopping and changing much, and I won't in the future either,

"I have the same sort of equation with all the players, and when I can't pick a player, he knows it's not personal. It's got to do with the situation. I am a peoples' person. So if anyone needs me, I will be there for them."

Meanwhile, the first ODI of the three-match series between the two teams will be played in Auckland on Friday. 

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