Indian Premier League’s (IPL) new team Ahmedabad on Friday (January 21) announced India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s name as their leader for the upcoming edition of IPL. Pandya was roped in by the Ahmedabad franchise for Rs 15 crore. Apart from the Indian all-rounder, the Ahmedabad team had also signed Indian batsman Shubman Gill and Afghanistan spinner Rashid Khan.
While talking about their new skipper Pandya, Ahmedabad mentor Gary Kirsten said that the all-rounder will be “really motivated” to come in and make a plan.
Kirsten's words
“I am looking forward to working with Hardik as a young and new captain. I think he will be really motivated to come in and make a plan and show what he is capable of at this level of the game as a leader," Kirsten said during a television show.
"He’s a great player. What I have heard is that he is really keen to get into the mix and get involved. I think he understands the importance of this tournament.
"What I have heard is that he is raring to go and get into the mix from a leadership perspective. So, I think that’s really exciting for us to have a player with such a level of skill, motivated to do well in this competition," the South African added.
‘High performers’
While talking about the other two recruits- Rashid Khan and Gill, Kirsten said that both of them are “high performers.”
“I am really excited by both of them. They are both high performers Rashid Khan has gone around the world, proven his value anywhere, so that’s an incredible signing for us. I am very excited to work with him I haven’t yet but I have seen him a lot, have met him few times, but have never really worked with him. So, I am looking forward to that.
"Certainly, watching him on the field, he’s a very competitive, young man that wants to do well for the franchise that he’s been involved in.
"Gill is a fantastic player, who, in my view, should be playing for India. He is on the verge of that and has played already. With great flair and instinct for the game, he could be a match-winner on his own," the former South Africa batsman and World Cup-winning coach said.
