How does this make you feel?
NEW DELHI: Addressing a press conference alongwith head coach Mark Boucher ahead of the upcoming of the Indian Premier League (IPL), Mumbai Indians new captain Hardik Pandya said that he had never thought of leading the franchise with which he started his journey.”It feels wonderful, my journey started from here and I never thought that 10 years down the line, I will be leading this side. It feels very good,” Pandya said when asked about his new role as the captain of the side in Mumbai on Monday.Pandya had made his IPL debut with Mumbai Indians in 2015 and won four titles with the side before joining Gujarat Titans in 2022.Pandya led Gujarat Titans to a title win in the same season.The all-rounder was traded by Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans ahead of the upcoming season.Coming back to Mumbai Indians, Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as captain.Not responding to any questions regarding captaincy, Pandya said, “I don’t take myself up in success, I don’t take myself down in failure. That’s my process and I think that has helped me a lot in my career.””It won’t be any different because he (Rohit Sharma) will always be there to help me out if I need his help. At the same time, his (Rohit) being the Indian captain helps me because this team has achieved all its glory under his belt. From now on, it will just be me carrying forward what he started. I know he will have his hand on my shoulder all through the season,” Pandya said.On being asked about any advice that he had received in his younger days, Pandya said, “My brother gave me that advice, it was easy, just to be myself. It is a massive stage, so many people, so many eyes on you. My brother told me that you are good enough to be here and that’s why you are here. From then, I focused on enjoying the sport, be myself and play. That’s what I expect from the young guys in the dressing room.””Very excited to link up again with Polly & Malinga. It has been fantastic so far and I can’t wait for the season ahead,” Pandya added when asked about the support staff at the franchise that has won 5 IPL titles.On coming back and his welcome by the squad, Pandya said, “It’s been amazing coming back, coming back to where it all started and the journey is going to continue. The welcome was wonderful, very warm, very exciting.”When asked about his role in the team, Pandya said, “In this IPL, I will be an all-rounder and I will try to finish and win as many games as possible.”On Jasprit Bumrah’s availability this season, Pandya said, “This year, we are fortunate that Jasprit Bumrah is available and firing all cylinders. Very excited to have him back full throttle and him guiding the youngsters in the camp””Rohit is in fantastic form, and I am really looking forward for Rohit to go hard and express himself,” Boucher added.On Nuwan Thushara & Malinga’s equation in the camp, Boucher said, “They come from the same country, they have the same action, it’s a match made in heaven. He is the perfect coach for Nuwan and I think they both are in a very good space.”IPL 2024 will get underway on March 22, with defending champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) set to clash with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) at MA Chidambaram Stadium.Mumbai Indians will start their campaign on Sunday, March 24, against last year’s runners-up Gujarat Titans.
