Gujarat Titans (GT) joined the Indian Premier League (IPL) only this season, but have already cemented their place as the team to beat. Leading the line for the new entrants is Hardik Pandya, who has taken his abilities a notch up after taking the responsibility of captaining the side in the 2022 season.
The newly inducted IPL team reclaimed the top spot after beating Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in a low-scoring match on Saturday. Pandya was the highest scorer of the match with his 49-ball 67, and the brilliant use of his bowlers ensured that his team were able to defend the relatively small total of 156.
With Gujarat back at the top of the points table after their eight-run win on Saturday, Pandya is not thinking too far ahead and is concentrating on the IPL with GT. “I don’t think it’s my comeback (bid to the Indian team) anyway and secondly I don’t focus on my comeback. I focus on the games which I play. Currently, I am playing IPL and will focus on it, then will see where the future takes.
"It’s never in my hands now. I focus on the team which I’m playing in. We are doing pretty well and I’m very happy," said Pandya in the post-match virtual press conference.
Pandya was dismissed in the 18th over off Tim Southee's bowling, after which Andre Russell had a crucial final over where he picked up four wickets. Pandya knew that his team were a few runs short but he backed his bowlers, and with good reason.
“We were 10-15 runs short. But with the bowling attack we have, I backed my chances to save 156. The wicket played the same in both innings. It had up and down bounce and the ball was not climbing up much but back of the length was working really well, which was our strength."
“I just told the boys before going in that this will be the game where we need to put our 110 per cent and told them that I had batted for 50 balls, where the most difficult ball was the one which hits the deck. You back your pace and ask the batter to play a good shot. With the kind of start we got initially and the execution we did, kudos to all the boys and I was very happy. I would always back my bowlers and bowling attack," he added.
Pandya was a regular with Mumbai Indians (MI), and has won four IPL trophies with the franchise. Now bringing his expertise into the GT dressing room will surely benefit the team, and him as a captain, “Captaincy obviously helps a lot. I’m always a cricketer who loves to take responsibility. I have a bit of understanding of the game having batted for so many years. You’re successful because you have an understanding of the game.
"Having played so many matches, I’m able to use my experience. I have the understanding about making the batting and bowling changes as I have been able to understand the nature of the wicket. So far, has been so good."
