He needed to prove a point

Former Team India head coach Gary Kirsten recalled working with star all-rounder Hardik Pandya during his stint with the Gujarat Titans (GT). The pair enjoyed a lot of success together after winning the title in their very first season in 2022, followed by a run into the finals, the very next year.

Gary Kirsten was named GT’s mentor right after their inception, while Hardik Pandya was named captain. The team enjoyed a dominant run in the league phase, finishing at the top of the table after losing only four matches.

The IPL 2022 season was crucial for Hardik Pandya as he made a massive statement with his exploits as both captain and player. The all-rounder had been dropped from the side after the disastrous T20 World Cup 2021 campaign, with Venkatesh Iyer taking over the slot of pace all-rounder.

Hardik Pandya responded by overcoming his injuries, scoring 487 runs with the bat and picking up eight wickets with an economy rate of 7.27.

Gary Kirsten recalled Hardik Pandya’s match-winning impact as a player alongwith his candid demeanor off the field.

“He does have a unique sense of self-belief. When he came to us in 2022, Ashish appointed him captain, and he was kind of in a bit of a strange place in his career at that point. He was in and out of the Indian team, and he needed to prove a point. He is very quirky off the field, and he is quite a funny guy. He actually makes you laugh a lot. He’s got this kind of very flamboyant way about him. almost get the sense that he does not care too much, but he does,” Gary Kirsten told Wisden Cricket.

Hardik Pandya played a vital role for Team India in their recent victorious T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. He scored 217 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 160.74, and picked up nine wickets at an average of 32.33.

“What stood out for me was his ability to do special things with the ball” – Gary Kirsten on Hardik Pandya’s impact as a bowler

After being forced to play as a pure batter for a brief period due to his chronic back injury, Hardik Pandya eventually ramped up his bowling load to function as a proper all-rounder. After not bowling in the 2020 and 2021 seasons at all, he put in 30.3 overs with the ball in the 2022 season and has not turned back since.

“We shifted him up the order, he actually batted at No.4 in that IPL, and he actually played some proper kind of longer innings as compared to what he is doing now. What stood out for me was his ability to do special things with the ball as well. I’ll never forget that final in front of 120,000 people where he bowled his four overs, 3-17. I think that is Hardik,” Gary Kirsten concluded.

Hardik Pandya was crowned player of the match in the IPL 2022 Final, which GT had won by seven wickets. He had derailed the Rajasthan Royals’ (RR) innings after dismissing the dangerous trio of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer.