Hardik Pandya has a poise that is typical of winners: GT Director

The IPL 2022 final is scheduled to be held tonight (May 29) at the Narendra Modi Stadium between the Gujarat Titans and the Rajasthan Royals. The new franchise Gujarat has been quite impressive this tournament right from the league stages and they finished first in the points table with ten wins in 14 games. One of the reasons behind their success this year is Hardik Pandya who was drafted in ahead of the mega auction and was named the side’s skipper as well.

Despite not having much experience in leadership, Hardik marshalled his troops really well and was willing to take the responsibility by batting up the order as well. He was back at his best with the ball as well and looked sublime in both the departments. With 453 runs so far at an average of 45.30, he is the top run-scorer for the Titans this season and no wonder, the team director Vikram Solanki heaped praises on him for his fighting spirit.

Hardik Pandya is somebody that’s clearly a passionate cricketer: Vikram Solanki

Solanki noted how Hardik was quite thrilled to take up captaincy and described him as a passionate cricketer who plays the game in an entertaining way. He highlighted Hardik’s nature of being self-confident despite making mistakes and instilling a no-fear attitude in the dressing room even if mistakes are to be committed. He concluded that Hardik has been poised with a winning mentality and hailed him for sharing his experiences as well.

“For me, it was very apparent that right from the outset, from when we spoke to him about the captaincy, he was enthused by it.”

“He is somebody that’s clearly a passionate cricketer, he plays cricket in a sort of entertaining way that is contagious in its style itself because he’s confident, he is prepared to take the fight on. But, to some extent, that point about encouraging people to not be afraid of making mistakes, not doubt themselves if something hasn’t gone right, he’s certainly been giving of his time in that sense, he’s been giving of his experience in that sense. And he’s got a lot of experience to share,” Vikram Solanki told ESPNcricinfo on Hardik Pandya.

“To me, he has a poise that is typical of winners. He’s somebody that has clearly been through a great deal in his life, both as a cricketer and as a person. And he uses those experiences to sort of lead the way he does,” he added.