Ace all-rounder Hardik Pandya will marshall the troops when Ahmedabad will take the field in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL 2022). This is the first time he will lead any team in the IPL.
Hardik, who was not retained by Mumbai Indians, was roped in by the CVC Capital owned Ahmedabad franchise in the pre-draft. The team also drafted Rashid Khan and Shubman Gill in their team.
Meanwhile, the spotlight will be on ‘captain’ Hardik Pandya in the upcoming edition of the cash-rich league. Speaking to Boria Majumdar on his show ‘Backstage with Boria’, he gave an early insight into how he will look to lead the team.
“For me, my leadership role means I set examples, I set the culture, I set the attitude which the team wants to play with. I want to set the precedent where everything has to be followed. So my way of leadership is making sure that you take the team along,” Hardik said.
“So my philosophy is not too complicated, it’s simple. You make sure that everybody is in right spirit, make sure the environment is right, make sure all the players are feeling at home, and eventually all the players fight (for the team). Once they get comfortable, they know what their potential is,” he added.
“I want to play as an all-rounder” – Hardik Pandya
The Surat-born all-rounder has struggled to bowl with the back injury troubling him for a long time. As a result, Hardik Pandya took some time out of cricket to recover fully and return as an all-rounder.
The 28-year-old asserted that he is fully focused on getting back in shape to ensure he can bowl as well as bat, whether it be in IPL 2022 or in the 2022 T20 World Cup in Australia.
“That’s my plan. I want to play as an all-rounder. My preparation is all about playing as an all-rounder. If something goes bad, then I don’t know. But my preparation, my hard work is all about playing as an all-rounder,” he concluded.