‘I’m just a batsman’: All-rounder Hardik Pandya praises MI scouting system

MUMBAI: Today, the cricket fraternity recognized Hardik Pandya One of the best white-ball all-rounders in the game, but when mumbai indians The first time I saw him was in domestic cricket, he was just a hard-working young man from Baroda who only knew how to bat. Talks about his journey in fireside chat with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard Speaking at the ‘MI MIX’ fan event at Jio World Garden on Sunday, Pandya said his rise was shaped by hard work and MI’s astute scouting system.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!“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 occurs ranji trophy When MI scouts noticed him, it was 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 to title glory for the third consecutive year in IPL 2026, made his ambition clear – to win a sixth title indian premier league (intense pulsed light) the name of the franchise.“My ultimate dream is to win the sixth IPL for MI. This team already has an amazing legacy but I hope we can play the best cricket ever played by Mumbai Indians and win as many trophies as possible. he said, prompting loud cheers from the fans, who he praised for their unconditional support in good times and bad.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.