With the 2024 season of the money-rich IPL inching closer with each passing day, newly-appointed Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya stated that he was grateful to be back where it all started for him.
Pandya makes his return to the Mumbai Indians side after having captined GT in the previous two editions of the IPL, the first of which he led the Ahmedabad-based side to the title, before missing out on the title defence falling to CSK in the final hurdle of the 2023 season.
Pandya, who represented MI between 2015 and 2021 before making the move to Gujarat Titans returns to Wankhede after a couple of years away. To add a coat of sheen to his return he was also announced as the skipper of the side for the upcoming edition.
Speaking at the pre-season press conference in Mumbai Pandya said, “First of all, it is very good to be back. I’m back where everything started. It is a very surreal feeling because everything that I have known from 2015 to now has been because of this team”.
“My life completely changed when I made my debut in 2015. I’m very grateful to have reached here and playing again at a ground that is my favourite from day one,” Pandya said.
Pandya said that he was chuffed beyond words at the prospect of leading the five-time winners Mumbai.
“It feels wonderful to be back. Never thought that 10 years down the line I’d be captaining Mumbai Indians,” Pandya expressed.
“The feeling is amazing. Very excited for the season ahead and to play again with my old fellows. We have got a lot of success together,” the 30-year-old said.
Pandya laid emphasis on the belief and trust in the process and urged fans to
“You should focus on the process,” Pandya said.
“I can’t win the IPL tomorrow. It can only happen a couple of months down the line. What we can focus on in those couple of months is how we prepare, how we take care of each other, how we make sure we know each other and out,” the all-rounder continued.
Pandya vowed that his MI will demonstrate a brand of cricket that the fans of the side will surely enjoy.
“The only thing we can promise is that we will play a brand of cricket that everyone will enjoy,” the skipper asserted.
Pandya concluded by saying he is now fully fit and will be playing as an all-rounder this season
Pandya, who has missed a lot of cricketing action in recent times since his injury during the initial phase of the ICC ODI World Cup, opined that he is fully fit and is eager to perform both with the bat and the ball.
“I have no issues with my body. I plan to play all the games possible,” Padya revealed.
Mumbai Indians begin their IPL campaign on the 24th of March against Gujarat Titans as Pandya returns to Ahmedabad to take on his former side.
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