'I'm Fully Prepared To Play As An All-Rounder' Declares Hardik Pandya

India's premium all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who has been suffering from injuries since mid-2021, has declared in an interview that he is 'fully prepared' to play as an all-rounder for the Ahmedabad franchise in the upcoming IPL 2022. 

The Gujarat-born cricketer has smashed 553 runs in 54 T20I matches for India while picking up 42 wickets at an average of 27.40. He has at times fulfilled the role of a finisher in the death overs for the team or that of a sixth bowling option to provide crucial wickets during the middle overs. 

Hardik Pandya has been draft picked by the new Ahmedabad franchise for a sum of Rs. 15 crores ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction and was announced as the leader of the franchise. In an interview with 'Backstage with Boria', Pandya said, 'My preparation is all about playing as an all-rounder. 

'I'm feeling good about my fitness and strength.' added the 28-year-old all-rounder. Speaking on his captaincy ahead of IPL 2022, Pandya showered praises on MS Dhoni - the leader. He said, 'Obviously I have learnt a lot from everyone, especially Mahi Bhai. When I went there, I was raw material. The way he groomed me, he gave me a lot of freedom.'

Hardik went on to add 'He wanted me to make my own mistakes and learn. He would never tell me how to bowl because he wanted me to learn how to survive. What I learnt from him was he never showed he was there but he was always standing behind making sure the guy gets groomed.'

On his own philosophy of leadership, he added, 'My way of leadership is that you always set examples, culture, the attitude and the precedent, to take the whole team along, everyone is in the right spirit and are comfortable'.

IPL 2022 mega auctions are scheduled to be held on 12th and 13th February 2021. Ahmedabad franchise picked 3 draft picks ahead of the auction - Hardik Pandya who will lead the side, Afghan spinner maestro Rashid Khan and very promising young Shubman Gill.