Hardik Pandya at ‘MI MIX’ fan event on Sunday. (Pic credit: MI’s X post) MUMBAI: The cricketing fraternity today recognizes Hardik Pandya as one of the best white-ball all-rounders in the game, but when Mumbai Indians first saw him in domestic cricket, he was just a hard-working youngster from Baroda who could only bat. Narrating his journey in a fireside chat with MI batting coach Kieron Pollard during the ‘MI MIX’ fan event at Jio World Garden on Sunday, Pandya said his rise was shaped by hard work and MI’s sharp scouting system.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SIGN UP NOW!“Before I played for Mumbai Indians, I was just a pure batsman for 17-19 years. All I knew was hard work – if someone told me to run 12 runs, I would run 15,” Pandya recalled of his early days in domestic cricket.The breakthrough came during a Ranji Trophy match when MI scouts spotted him – almost by accident. “I played a Ranji game and the scouts didn’t even come to watch me. That’s the beauty of Mumbai Indians’ scouting system. They identified something special even though they weren’t there specifically for me. That shows the strength of their system,” he said.Pandya joined MI in 2015 as a young prospect and gradually transformed into a match-winner all-rounder. The 32-year-old admitted that the transition from a pure batsman to an all-rounder was not easy and required him to make significant adjustments, especially in terms of fitness and body management.“I had to adapt. I had no idea how to take care of my body or what it meant to be an all-rounder. All I knew was to work hard and that helped me get through difficult phases,” he said, urging young cricketers to be disciplined.Pandya, now in charge of Mumbai Indians for the third consecutive year in IPL 2026, has made his ambition clear – to win a sixth Indian Premier League (IPL) title for the franchise.“My biggest dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time for MI. This franchise already has an amazing legacy, but I want us to play the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played and win as many trophies as possible,” he said to loud cheers from the fans, who he praised for their unconditional support in good times and bad.Pollard, who has watched Pandya’s journey from close quarters, credited him as an inspiration for the next generation of MI players. “The courage and youthful exuberance of the young players excites me. When Hardik came into the lineup, he worked hard and delivered results on the field. The next generation sees that and comes fearlessly – that’s what Mumbai Indians are all about,” Pollard said.
