‘Until you improve, we can’t give you a match’- This Mumbai Indians youngster recalls Hardik Pandya’s strict words


‘Until you improve, we can’t give you a match’- This Mumbai Indians youngster recalls Hardik Pandya’s strict words

Hardik Pandya and Ishan Kishan

Even though Hardik Pandya, who started off with the Mumbai Indians at the age of 21 in 2015, is a captain of the new franchise Gujarat Titans, he will cherish his time with the MI because during which, he was part of the 5-time champion franchise.

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Just like a youngster Hardik, who was an integral part of the MI franchise, several others also have come under the limelight with the MI and an example is Ishan Kishan. Ishan Kishan was signed by the MI with a massive amount of Rs. 15.25 crores but the road to being such an expensive player wasn’t child’s play for him. For years, he wasn’t a frequent choice for the team to be included in the playing X|.

During a show ‘Breakfast with Champions’, Ishan told cricket presenter Gaurav Kapoor about how ex-MI all-rounder Hardik Pandya had taken him under his guidance when Ishan was still finding his way.

“Hardik bhai was always like ‘You leave him to me”- Ishan Kishan on Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya
Ishan Kishan, Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya

“I was with Hardik bhai and others all the time during the IPL and I see their work ethic as to how he is taking care of himself. They would sit me down and explain things to me for 30 minutes about what’s important, what is not and what I am doing wrong. Hardik bhai’s reputation…I mean all the seniors in the team would sit together. But I was the young one who was still finding his way. Hardik bhai was always like ‘You leave him to me’. And he actually told me also that until you improve, we can’t give you a match. I also felt then that what they’re saying is for my own benefit”.

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“Even Krunal (Pandya) bhai, he also is like ‘I’ll meet you after 3-4 months’. And then when we meet, we will track each other’s progress as a human beings, player-everything together. We keep challenging each other”.

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