Mumbai: The cricketing fraternity today recognized Hardik Pandya as one of the best white-ball all-rounders in the game, but when Mumbai Indians first discovered him in domestic cricket, he was just a hard-working youngster from Baroda who only knew how to bat. Pandya, who had a fireside chat with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard during the ‘MI MIX’ fan event at Jio World Garden on Sunday, recalled his experience and said his rise was shaped by hard work and MI’s astute scouting system.
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“Before playing for Mumbai Indians, I was just a pure batsman, playing 17-19 years. The only thing I knew was hard work – if someone told me to run 12 overs, I would run 15 overs,” Pandya said, recalling his early days in domestic cricket.
The turning point came during a Ranji Trophy match when MI scouts noticed him – almost by accident. “I was playing a Ranji game and the scouts didn’t even come to see me. That’s the beauty of Mumbai Indians’ scouting system. Even if they weren’t there specifically for me, they were able to spot something special. That shows the power of their system,” he said.
Pandya joined MI as a young rookie in 2015 and gradually transformed himself into a match-winning all-rounder. The 32-year-old admitted that the transition from pure batsman to all-rounder was not easy and required a lot of adaptation on his part, especially in terms of fitness and body management.
“I had to adapt. I had no idea how to take care of my body or how to become an all-rounder. The only thing I knew was to work hard and that helped me get out of the tough phase,” he said, urging young cricketers to be disciplined.
Pandya, who will now lead Mumbai Indians for the third consecutive year in IPL 2026, has made his ambition clear – to win a sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the franchise.
“My ultimate dream is to win a sixth IPL for MI. This team already has an amazing legacy, but I want us to play the best cricket ever for Mumbai Indians and win as many trophies as possible,” he said, earning loud cheers from the fans, who he praised for their unconditional support in good times and bad.
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Pollard took a closer look at Pandya’s journey and credited him with inspiring the next generation of MI players. “The bravery and youthful energy of the young players excites me. When Hardik came in, he worked hard and got results on the field. The next generation saw that and was fearless – that’s what Mumbai Indians are all about,” said Pollard.
