T20 World Cup 2022: To hell with ‘Spirit of the Game’: Hardik Pandya has a strong response regarding run out at non-striker’s end

India’s all-rounder Hardik Pandya is fine with a bowler running him if he leaves the non-striker’s end before the ball has been released. Recently, Indian women team spinner Deepti Sharma was widely criticized when she decided to run out England’s Charlotte Edwards.

However, Pandya said that the bowler is well within his rights to run out the non-striker if he is trying to steal a few yards before the ball has been delivered. Such run-outs, referred to as Mankading, have always been a controversial topic among cricket aficionados.

They are always mixed with the Spirit of the game and the rules of the game. However, Pandya feels when it is a rule, the spirit of the game shouldn’t be talked about.

“We need to stop making a fuss about this running out the non-striker. It is a rule, as simple as that. To hell with the spirit of the game, if it is there, it is there. Personally, I have no problem with it. If I am out of my crease, and someone runs me out, it is fine. It is my mistake,” Hardik said on the latest episode of ‘ICC Review’.

The all-rounder also believes that the match-ups are overrated and it is important for him to play according to the match situation and deliver for his team.

“Matchups don’t work for me, see where I bat and the situation I get into, I do not get the option of matchups. You see matchups are more for the people who are batting in Top 3 or 4. For me, it is just the situation. There have been times, when I would like to take on a bowler, but if the situation does not demand it, I do not take that risk as it is going to harm my team,” said Hardik.

“I am never okay with that. Matchups, it is over-rated. I do not mind saying it, in T20 cricket, it is over-rated. In ODIs and Tests, it might work but in T20s, I do not believe it. Yes, I have not won a World Cup, but I have won other tournaments and I do not think I have ever worried about matchups,” he added.

Pandya added that his aim is to become the best version and get the best out of himself for the team.

Hardik said: “Ever since I have made a comeback, the ambition is to the best version of myself and to get the best out of myself. I am running towards, not greatness I would say, but excellence. I am running towards excellence, if I want to achieve something, I think it would be excellence, not performance. At the end of my career, if I can say to myself, you know what Hardik, you achieved excellence at one point of time, it would be great.”

Pandya scalped three wickets and scored 40 runs against Pakistan to deliver for the team. India will take on the Netherlands on Thursday at the SCG.