Sanjay Manjrekar reckons the way IPL 2022 went for Hardik Pandya, not just in terms of his individual performances, but in terms of leadership as well, has given him a world of confidence, and that confidence is reflected in his international performances now.
According to Sanjay Manjrekar, who was speaking on Sports 18, Hardik Pandya‘s fitness and his inconsistency with the bat were the reasons why Mumbai Indians probably decided not to retain him. But then the way things followed after that for Hardik gave him a sense of ambition.
Gujarat Titans, one of the two new franchises in the league, didn’t just pick Hardik Pandya as one of their three marquee players before the IPL auction itself, they also announced that Hardik would be their captain and Hardik hasn’t looked back ever since.
Hardik Pandya is a completely different cricketer now: Sanjay Manjrekar
Not only Hardik was at the top of his game with both bat and ball individually in the IPL, but he also came across as a mature leader and Sanjay Manjrekar reckons that after the IPL triumph Hardik pulled off with Gujarat Titans by beating Rajasthan Royals in the final, but he is completely different cricketer now.
Manjrekar is of the view that it’s the sense of ambition that Hardik Pandya has got now, that’s what is helping him in making humongous strides in Indian cricket. Manjrekar also admitted that he is personally surprised with where Hardik stands now as compared to where he was a few months back.
After the T20 World Cup of 2021, there were question marks over Hardik Pandya’s place in the Indian team. He asked for a break from the BCCI and spent a couple of months on the sidelines working on his fitness and since his comeback, his performances have been as good as anyone.
