India all-rounder Hardik Pandya claimed that he started out as a “pure batter” and attributed his ascent to become one of the nation’s most valuable cricketers to his perseverance and determination to go above and beyond.
Pandya has come a long way since making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2013 and entering the Indian Premier League in 2015, when the Mumbai Indians won their second title. He went on to play significant roles in India’s victories in the T20 World Cup in 2024 and 2026.
“I was just a pure batter who batted all his 17-19 years of young age… I only knew one thing, if you tell people to run 12 rounds, I ran 15 rounds. So from there out of the blue, someone sees me and one year later I play Ranji Trophy,” PTI quoted the 32-year-old as saying at an MI promotional event in Mumbai on Sunday.
In limited-overs cricket, Pandya is widely considered a true two-in-one player due to his versatility as a finisher, wicket-taker, and batsman.
He dismissed Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the final, which was crucial to India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Pandya emphasized his belief in unrelenting hard work and self-improvement and thanked MI’s scouting system for seeing his talent early.
“Playing a Ranji game, they haven’t come to see me but they were able to identify that I had something special. That shows the talent MI scouting has, that is what MI scouting does. I had to adapt, I had no idea to look after my body, I had no idea. No matter how much someone will push, I know how to work hard… Duniya uppar se neeche ho jaye (Even if the world turns upside down) I always believed in hard work. I always tell this to the youngsters,” he said.
The five-time winners, who haven’t won the trophy since 2020, are aiming for a record sixth IPL championship. MI had a rollercoaster run in recent years, losing to eventual runners-up Punjab Kings in the playoffs last year and finished last in 2024.
“Ultimate dream is to win IPL for the sixth time for our Paltan. MI already has such amazing legacy, MI fans are the team’s heartbeat. The junoon, the passion when I first played, I want that. Play the best kind of cricket that MI and Hardik Pandya have ever played, that’s the legacy I want to be for MI and win trophies as many as possible,” Pandya said.
Pandya joked about the jersey’s lack of five stars despite their number of titles: “Honest answer is we want to win as many possible. Fortunate that we’ve won five already so if we keep on putting it then there would not be any space left.”
He continued, highlighting his relationship with the team’s fans: “I play for this love, the kind of love I get every time I play here is the added motivation. We’re very grateful to them.”
On March 29, the Mumbai Indians will play their first game at home against the Kolkata Knight Riders.
