Watch- Hardik Pandya speaks on Rohit Sharma's captaincy for the 1st time after being appointed the Mumbai Indians' captain

Baroda-born All-rounder Hardik Pandya labeled 2015 as the best year he has ever had in his cricketing career so far. Pandya made this claim while speaking to Jatin Sapru in a recent Star Sports interview in front of all his fans, in the build-up to IPL 2024. The latest edition is all set to start from March 22 onwards with reigning champions Chennai Super Kings taking on Royal Challengers Bangalore in the season opener.

As we all know, Hardik Pandya after spending 2 successful years as the captain of Gujarat Titans, has been traded back to the first IPL outfit Mumbai Indians. He switched allegiance from GT to MI right before the mini-auctions for IPL 2024 took place in Dubai’s Coca-Cola arena. Pandya has been brought back to the franchise with the condition that he will be replacing Rohit Sharma as the captain.

Pandya claims MI’s success in the 2015 IPL is the reason why his career started off

As the anticipation goes over the roof, Star Sports is doing everything it can to create a strong build-up campaign for this year’s IPL. They called on Hardik Pandya for a chit-chat and asked him several questions. He spoke on a variety of topics and also shed light upon his first-ever IPL season in 2015.

Pandya at that time was a newcomer and none of us had any idea about what he was capable of. Yet in his debut season, he helped the Mumbai-based outfit claim their 2nd IPL title in 2015 in which he was also adjudged as man of the match in the knockouts. While answering Jatin Sapru, Pandya stated that it was a year that kick-started his career as he was able to contribute on a larger scale and in do-or-die situations.

“2015, first season, first final, first title that you touched, tell us about it”. – Jatin Sapru asked.

“Yes, it was very very special because that was the moment why I’m sitting over here. Maybe if I wouldn’t been have been there then I could not have been here as well. So, the entire season we had, I was fortunate enough that I was able to contribute in a much larger scale where there were knock-out games and I was able to contribute. My best memories from 2015 are those 2 man of the match awards I won which came in the knockouts that too in a do or die situation.” – Hardik Pandya said via Star Sports. 

Hardik Pandya summarizes the 2015 IPL

“So at the same point of time if I try to summarize the entire thing then it was the best year of my life because this is where my journey started from. And it is from here only that a Gujarati lad who had many dreams was able to carry on with his dreams and this is where it all started to materialize. ” – Pandya concluded. 

Meanwhile, the Hardik Pandya-led Mumbai Indians will begin their IPL 2024 campaign against 2022 champions Gujarat Titans. The fixture will be taking place at the Narendra Modi Stadium on March 24.