Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is looking to win his team’s sixth Indian Premier League title this season. Pandya, who returns to captain MI after a successful T20 World Cup title defence, spoke about building his legacy and how he wants MI to play their best cricket ever this season.
After a quiet season in 2024 when Hardik returned to the franchise, MI performed strongly last season and made it to the playoffs. However, the campaign ended in heartbreak as the franchise was ripped apart in Qualifier 2 by Shreyas Iyer’s Punjab Kings.
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Speaking to Cricbuzz ahead of the season, Pandya said he wanted to continue Mumbai’s legacy as a team that nurtures young talent and helps them grow to their full potential.
“The ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time,” the Mumbai Indians captain said in an interview.
“At the same time, it’s about building a legacy. Mumbai Indians already have an incredible legacy, but I still remember when I was a new kid – the passion, the hard work and how the team supported me and helped me grow,” he added.
Hardik Pandya, like Jasprit Bumrah, is a product of Mumbai’s incredible scouting system – a system that consistently identifies young talent and nurtures them into world-beaters who will dominate international cricket.
“Going forward, I want this culture to continue – where the players step up, work hard and play the best kind of cricket. I want us to represent the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played and the best cricket I have ever played. That is the legacy I want to leave – for myself and the franchise,” concluded Pandya.
The fast bowling all-rounder has recently been criticized by some sections of the fans for his larger-than-life lifestyle. However, this lifestyle did not affect his performances, which was evident in the World T20 semi-final against England, where Pandya held his nerve in the dying overs to achieve a crucial victory against a rampaging Jacob Bethell that almost took the game away from India.
Mumbai Indians batting coach Kieron Pollard pointed out the same and stated that Hardik Pandya continues to be one of the hardest working players in the team. Recalling Hardik’s early years, Pollard said that Pandya had a larger-than-life personality when he first entered the MI set-up but never abandoned his work ethic – something that now inspires the younger generation.
“The courage and youthful exuberance that these players bring is remarkable. I think it all started when this individual (pointing to Pandya) came into our set-up – larger than life but someone who works incredibly hard and can do it on the field. That’s what the next generation sees,” Pollard said.
“When they come to our camp, they are fearless – and that’s exactly what we want. That’s what Mumbai Indians are about: a fearless brand of cricket. These guys are ready from the start and that excites me a lot,” concluded the legendary former MI star.
Mumbai Indians will play their first game of IPL 2026 on March 29 when they take on Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.
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Issued by:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
23 March 2026 08:17 IST
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