India, March 7 -- When one thinks of the Narendra Modi Stadium at Motera, the first thing that comes to mind is the venue's sheer size: the big outfield, the number of people in the stands, and the noise they make. If you aren't used to it, the intimidation factor can throw you off.

But there are times when players seem to have a special bond with a ground. Just stepping on it, seems to fill them with confidence... it suits their style and they seem to understand it. Mahela Jayawardene seemed to have such a feel for the Sinhalese Sports Club in Colombo. For VVS Laxman, Eden Gardens was that ground. For Dilip Vengsarkar, it was Lord's.

One might say that Hardik Pandya is the guy for Ahmedabad and T20s. In the current Indian squad, he is ...