No. 3 Was Always My Dream Batting Position, I Had To Kill It This Time: GT skipper Hardik Pandya

Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya has been on a roll in the ongoing Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 as his side has won six of its first seven games. The dashing all-rounder has led the team from the front, contributing heavily in all three departments. It must be noted that Hardik, who played the finisher’s role during his stint with Mumbai Indians, has been batting up the order this season.

Having scored 295 runs in six outings, the all-rounder is currently the fourth-highest run-getter. While he has been a designated number-four batter for the Titans, he batted one down in his last assignment against Kolkata Knight Riders and scored a match-winning 67. Following the game, the 28-year-old revealed that he always wanted to bat at number three.

My Role Changes When Shubman Gill Gets Out Early: Hardik Pandya

He also recalled batting at number three for Mumbai Indians in some matches, wherein he couldn’t make a mark. “No.3 was always my dream. In 2016, I played for Mumbai and they promoted me to no.3. I didn’t have a good time. This time, I had to make sure that I had to kill it,” Pandya said about the move in a conversation with GT’s Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki.

Speaking of his role and approach, Hardik said: “About form, I’ve been batting well. I’m very happy that it is coming at the right time. My role changes when Shubman (Gill) gets out. If Shubman is there, I play a different role but when he gets out, I become the Shubman Gill of this team.”

“So, it was just about making sure I play good cricketing shots, take less risks, and the run-rate is there. I’m enjoying my batting,” Pandya said about his knock against the Knight Riders,” he added.  Meanwhile, Pandya didn’t bowl against KKR due to injury issues and it would be interesting to see when the dasher will return to bowling. The Titans will next take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 27.

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