Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 champions Gujarat Titans (GT) and their skipper Hardik Pandya quietened their early-season critics by winning the coveted trophy in just their first season in the cash-rich tournament. Hardik led the line from the front, and even put a player of the match performance in the final and finished as the team's leading run-scorer.
The 28-year-old has received praise from across quarters after the tournament for his leadership and his decision-making skills as a captain in pressure situations. One player to join in the accolades is the Titans' left-arm spinner R Sai Kishore, who was with Chennai Super Kings (CSK) before IPL 2022. The 25-year-old recently compared Hardik's captaincy to that of former India skipper MS Dhoni.
"There are a lot of similarities between the two. Much like Dhoni, Hardik has the knack of getting the best out of his players. Both put the team before themselves and that's what you expect from your leader," Sai Kishore told Times of India in an interview.
"I would call Hardik the junior version of Dhoni," he added.
Having spent two seasons with the four-time IPL champions, Sai Kishore did not get a game during his stint with CSK. He made his IPL debut for the Titans this season against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG), picking up two wickets for just seven runs in his two overs in the match. He then played in every match for the eventual champions and even picked up a wicket in the final.
"It was a great season but I feel I can do better. I will want to continue improving my game in the coming months," the 25-year-old said, reflecting on his performances. He also credited the former India skipper Dhoni for his progress as a player. "Bowling to MS Dhoni at the nets and speaking to him about the game did a world of good for me. My game-reading skills have improved," he said.
The 25-year-old finished the season with six wickets from five matches and an economy rate of 7.56.
