Hardik Pandya will start afresh with Mumbai Indians in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League starting March 22. The 30-year-old Pandya has a cool head. This season, however, is different. The India all-rounder will be under pressure as he has replaced five-time IPL winner Rohit Sharma as captain.
Mumbai Indians play their first match in the 17th IPL against Gujarat Titans in Ahmedabad on March 24, 2024.
Pandya learnt the tricks of the trade under Sharma in MI and sharpened it while playing with MS Dhoni in the Indian team during his formative years. He won four titles with MI, which benefited Gujarat Titans in their debut season two years ago. Pandya moved to GT as captain and led them to glory.
The Baroda boy joined Shane Warne — the winner of the inaugural IPL with Rajasthan Royals — in the record books. He became the second captain to lead a new team to the title on first attempt. The good run continued as GT finished runners-up in their second season.
He was India's T20I captain for a long period from November 2022, before the injury during the World Cup pulled him out of action.
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Pandya won 20 out of the 28 league matches in his two seasons with GT. Young pacers like Yash Dayal blossomed under his leadership. "He is the bowler's captain. If you have confidence in yourself, he lets you make your own decisions. That further boosts the confidence of a bowler. I would say he is the best captain I have played under," ESPN Cricinfo had quoted him as saying.
Dayal had finished with 11 wickets in nine outings in that season.
India fast bowler Shivam Mavi was part of GT in 2023. He felt the chilled environment contributed to the team's success, and it was due to Pandya's nature. "When I played under him for India for the first time, he was very supportive. If the captain supports you, it feels good. It is in the hands of the captain and management to create a good atmosphere. You can see that a team performs well if the atmosphere is good, "Mavi had said at a press conference.
Pandya won 10 out of 16 matches as India T20I captain, which leads to 62.50 win percentage. He won 21 out of 30 in the IPL, and lifted the success rate to 70 per cent.
How he works with Sharma as a senior-most player and former captain will be the real challenge when he steps on to the field, coincidentally against GT at the Narendra Modi Stadium, on March 24.
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