Five-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians will cap off one of their worst seasons in recent years with a final home game against Lucknow Super Giants on Friday (May 17) at the Wankhede Stadium. Hardik Pandya, the side’s newly-appointed captain this season, reflects on his first year as MI skipper, saying he is not result-oriented, explaining his captaincy mantra, labelling it simple.
Considering MI sits in the tenth position with just four wins thus far this season, their game against LSG is for them trying to not finish at the same spot in IPL 2024. Speaking on one of the ‘Captains Speak’ segments, shared by the broadcaster on X, Pandya said he aims to instil confidence, belief and love into his teammates, urging them to give their 100 per cent in the matches.
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“I think my captaincy is simple,” Hardik said.
“It’s just Hardik Pandya playing with ten other of his teammates. The mantra is simple. Looking after the players, you give them the confidence, you give them the belief; you give them the love. They will go out and give more than 100 per cent, and that’s something I ask for,” he added.
Meanwhile, before returning to his former franchise in a historic swap deal ahead of this season, Pandya led Gujarat Titans for two years, leading them to their maiden IPL title in their first attempt in 2022. Even the following year, he led his team to the final against Chennai Super Kings, losing the close tie at home in Ahmedabad.
Calling him approach-oriented rather than result-oriented, Pandya continued saying, “I am not someone who is result-oriented, but I am definitely approach-oriented. (I see) what kind of approach they (players) are showing, and if I feel that is suiting the team, I think somewhere down the line it helps the team.”
Pandya’s worrisome form rocked MI
Hardik Pandya returned to competitive cricket in IPL 2024 from an injury layoff, struggling to get going with both bat and ball this season. While with the bat he just scored 200 runs in 13 matches, with 46 being his best, he returned with 11 wickets at over ten per over.
With the 2024 T20 World Cup on the horizon, Pandya’s poor form mounts worry on the Men in Blue.
India opens their campaign against Ireland on June 5.
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