IPL 2022: 'It's all about making sure we respect this game' - Hardik Pandya

Experienced all-rounder Hardik Pandya led from the front as Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals by 7 wickets at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Tuesday (May 24) and sealed their place in the final of IPL 2022. The GT captain hit an unbeaten 40 and added an unbeaten 106-run stand for the fourth wicket with David Miller (68 not out), who won the Man of the Match award as well for his stunning show. However, after the win, Hardik Pandya said that he had no feelings. Notably, Hardik has won four titles with Mumbai Indians in the cash-rich league.

“I’ve started to balance things in my life.. this has been a constant effort through the last couple of years. In the end, my family, my son, my wife, and my brother as well have played a big role. They kind of allowed me to get neutral in life. I look forward to go home and spend some time with family, and that’s made me a better cricketer as well,” Hardik Pandya has said to Star Sports. “Don’t have much feelings right now. Trying to be neutral again I’ll say.”

READ MORE: IPL 2022 Gujarat Titans: Road to final

However, he has said that the side has different players who bring different values to the team as well and also added that it was important to have good people on the side. After having a poor show earlier in the league, he has tasted success with the bat in IPL 2022. On Tuesday, he set the stage for Gujarat Titans and later played the anchor’s role as David Miller took the charge and hit the Rajasthan Royals bowling attack as well. He smashed Prasidh Krishna for three sixes in the final over to seal the deal.

“All the 23 players are different characters, bring different things to the table. Was saying to Miller as well, if you have good people around you, you get good things. It’s been that story for us. The kind of people we have, the genuine human beings we have. I genuinely see even the players in the dugout are trying and praying for them to make sure they do well. That is something fantastic and that is the reason we have reached where we have reached,” Hardik Pandya stated. “It’s all about making sure we respect this game. Rash has been fantastic throughout the season and throughout his cricketing journey. But I’m proud of Miller – the way we have played. Wherever my team requires me to play, I don’t generally demand where I want to bat. That’s not how I’ve got success.”

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However, Hardik Pandya has amassed 453 runs from 14 matches which came at an average of 45.30. As the captain of the Gujarat Titans, he has promoted himself up in the batting order and taken the responsibility of scoring important runs for his side as well. Notably, Gujarat Titans will take on any of the teams among Lucknow Super Giants, Royal Challengers Bangalore and Rajasthan Royals in the final of the IPL 2022 which will take place in Ahmedabad on May 29.