Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya has been seen in a different role in the ongoing Indian Premier League. Not only Pandya has been leading his team but also he has been seen in a different avatar as a batter. Pandya, who earlier played for Mumbai Indians and played the role of a finisher, scored his runs at a strike rate of more than 150.
However, as a leader of Gujarat Titans, Pandya has more responsibility on his shoulders and wants to be the glue between the top order and lower-middle order for his team. In the first four matches for Gujarat Titans, Pandya was striking at 122.
However, against Rajasthan Royals, Hardik Pandya was able to strike the right chord between aggression and caution. Pandya scored a fine knock of 87 runs off just 52 balls with the help of eight four and four sixes as he scored his runs at a strike rate of 167.71 to help GT post 192 runs on the board. Pandya feels he was able to get the right rhythm and planned his knock accordingly after they won by 37 runs at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Mumbai on Thursday.
The all-rounder ticked all the right boxes as a batter, captain, fielder, and bowler. Pandya was spot-on as a leader, affected a run-out of Sanju Samson, and also accounted for Jimmy Neesham. Pandya had to walk off after bowling 2.3 overs and revealed that it was just cramps and nothing serious.
Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation, “Always good to win. It is just cramps. Not used to batting for so long. Gives me time though to calculate. Today I got the rhythm and planned my knock. It allows the others to play freely. I have done the other role where I have scored 12-ball 30. Captaincy is always fun. Be the flagbearer of the team. The team is gelling well. I wanted all of us to be happy for each other’s happiness. That is working well for the team.”
Pandya is definitely enjoying his new role as a leader and he is leading from the front. The all-rounder will look to continue the good show and GT has now won four of their five matches. Pandya had a great day at the office and he would look to keep getting the best out of his players.
Gujarat Titans will next face Chennai Super Kings at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Mumbai on Sunday.
