PANDYA: IT IS A VERY SURREAL FEELING
All-rounder talks about his return to Mumbai Indians as the five-time champions begin a new era
Hardik Pandya, the new leader of Mumbai Indians, has laid out norms as the five-time champions bid to start a new era in the Season 17 of the Indian Premier League, which begins in Chennai on Friday.
For the all-rounder, there are no half measures. The team comes first and the individual glory takes a backseat. In his first address to the media as the captain of Blue and Gold franchise, the 30-yearold also laid to rest the rumours about the rift in the team due to his appointment as skipper.
There is no magic wand to turn Mumbai Indians’ fortunes around in a day or two. It requires time and Pandya is tasked with bringing about the change in fortunes. In the last three years, the five-time champions have made it to playoffs only once and also finished last among the 10team league the previous season.
Handling an IPL team is no easy task. The two-month long season takes a huge toll on the players and keeping them injury free is a real challenge. Pandya understands the strenuous job having already served as captain with his previous team — Gujarat Titans, where he saw two successful years including a title win.
Firm belief
“I have a firm belief that you should be playing for the team. Everyone can have goals, everyone can have dreams but being honest and being true to your team is the most important thing for me,” said Pandya, adding that a good performance in IPL will always be a stepping stone to the national team. “We will make sure that we serve Mumbai Indians to the best of our ability and in that process if someone is staking a claim I will be very happy.”
Though Pandya doesn’t promise any miracle overnight, he still believes his team will put in the best show possible. “You should focus on the process. I can’t win the IPL tomorrow. It can only happen a couple of months down the line. What we can focus on in those couple of months is how we prepare, how we take care of each other, how we make sure we know each other and out. The only thing we can promise is that we will play a brand of cricket that everyone will enjoy.”
Clearing the air on the equation he shares with former skipper Rohit Sharma, Pandya said: “First of all it will be no different. He will be the first one to help me out if I need any help. At the same of time he is the captain of the Indian team. Everything the IPL team has achieved was under his leadership and I’m just carrying it forward.”
Pandya said his return to Mumbai Indians as a captain was a dream and was really looking forward to start his new role. “It feels wonderful to be back. Never thought that 10 years down the line I’d be captaining Mumbai Indians. The feeling is amazing. Very excited for the season ahead and to play again with my old fellows. We have got a lot of success together. I’m back where everything started. It is a very surreal feeling,” he added.