Hardik Pandya led the Gujarat Titans (GT) to register their first Indian Premier League title in their debut season. He was named Player of the Match in the final, as he picked up the crucial wickets of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer while conceding 17 runs in his quota of four overs.
In Hardik Pandya's life, the greatest ambition is to win the World Cup for India. Shortly after collecting the winners' trophy and concluding his other commitments, Hardik was asked what his short-and long-term ambitions were now, having made a successful comeback with bowling after injury issues.
"Absolutely, to win the World Cup for India, no matter what happens, I will give it everything I have. Always been the kind of guy to put the team first. For me, the goal will be simple: to make sure my team gets it the most," Hardik said.
"Playing for India has always been a dream come true no matter how many games I have played. It has always been a pleasure for me to represent the country. The kind of love and support I have got, it is only from the Indian team's point of view. Long term, short term, I want to win the World Cup no matter what happens," GT skipper said.
Hardik has won every IPL final he featured in, four times with the Mumbai Indians and now with the Gujarat Titans. When asked if this was anything exceptional, Hardik admitted that it was, but only just.
"Obviously, this will be a little special because I have won it as a captain, The four that I have won before this are equally special. Winning IPL is always special. I consider myself very lucky that I have played five finals and have lifted the trophy five times.
Obviously, this will leave a legacy because we are a new franchise, playing for the first time, and we are champions in the first season. But the four that I have won before this were equally special," he said.
It would also come as personal vindication for him and coach Ashish Nehra, who put in extra effort to assemble a good bowling squad. They went into every match with six frontline options, including Hardik Pandya and a seventh backup bowler in Rahul Tewatia. Hardik stated that this was their mindset from the beginning.
"Specifically, we both [Nehra and me] lean towards the bowlers. People say T20 is a batters' game, but I have always maintained that bowlers win you matches. Because if the batters don't get a par score, if you have a gun bowling line-up, the bowlers can pull things back.
We have always given ten runs fewer [than par]. Even when others have conceded 190, we have gone for ten fewer. Those ten runs win or lose you matches in the bigger picture," Hardik added.
"For me and Ashu pa [Nehra], when we were starting, we wanted to create a strong and experienced bowling unit. So that even if there are times when batters don't click, you can pull back with the bowling," he further added.