Image Credit source: PTI
Under the captaincy of Hardik Pandya, Gujarat Titans reached the final of IPL 2022. Beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets in the first qualifier. Dhoni also remembered.
Hardik Pandya has seen ups and downs, injuries, surgeries, controversies in his short international career, but he says that he faced everything with a smile. Leaving all these things behind, in the first season of Gujarat Titans in the Indian Premier League, he not only shone as an all-rounder but also emerged as a good captain and has taken the team to the finals. After defeating Rajasthan Royals by seven wickets in the first qualifier, Hardik Pandya said in the virtual press conference, ‘People will talk. This is their job. I can’t do anything.’ He said, ‘Hardik Pandya’s name always sells and I have no problem with it. I face it with a smile.’
Pandya, who made his international debut in 2016 after his success with Mumbai Indians, was highly expected and was compared to World Cup winning captain Kapil Dev. Then in 2019, he was suspended for his derogatory remarks about women in Koffee with Karan. He later apologized to the BCCI’s inquiry committee. The last match he played for India was against Namibia in the T20 World Cup in Dubai on November 8. Since then, due to the operation of the waist, he was seen struggling in bowling.
Dhoni remembered Pandya
After his release from Mumbai Indians, Gujarat took him in the draft before the IPL season. Gujarat gave him Rs 15 crore. Questions were also raised on Pandya being given the captaincy, but like his mentor ‘MS Dhoni’, ‘Captain Cool’ Pandya answered the critics with his performance. He said, ‘Mahi bhai has played a big role in my life. He is like a brother, friend and family to me. I learned a lot of good things from him. I could face all these things only by staying strong personally. In this season, Pandya has scored 453 runs at an average of over 45 and his strike rate is 132. It’s been 84. He 7. Took five wickets at an economy of 73.
Pandya said – I do not panic
Pandya told that he used to be cool even before getting the captaincy. Pandya said, ‘Even before the captaincy, I used to be calm in every situation. In this way better decisions can be taken. In my career and life too, I prefer to wait ten seconds rather than panic. When asked about the final to be held on Sunday at his home ground Motera, he said, “It will be wonderful.” Such a big stadium, our home ground, our state. Hopefully the stadium will be full.
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