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IPL 2022 | Doesn't look like Hardik Pandya is captaining for the first time, says Rahul Tewatia

Hardik Pandya's appointment as skipper of Gujarat Titans (GT) for the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022 was met with little criticism; after all, the cricketer had zero experience in leading a team. However, Pandya has proved his mantle as a leader, marching his franchise into the tournament's final in their debut season.


Rahul Tewatia, who has been the side's backbone down the order, spoke about Pandya's captaincy skills and how it did not feel like the latter's first gig.


Speaking to NDTV, Tewatia said, "Hardik keeps things simple both on and off the field. He practices the same way every time, irrespective of whether he has scored runs or not. He keeps the atmosphere pretty chilled. It does not look like Hardik is captaining for the first time."


The all-rounder from Haryana also mentioned his rapport with Rashid Khan and what he has learned from the leggie.


"I have talked a lot about bowling with Rashid Khan. If Rashid does not take a wicket, then you just see that he concedes only 15-20 runs. He has a big impact on the game. Rashid bhai also told us that he worked a lot on his batting and it showed this season," the left-hander stated.


Called 'The Iceman' by his Titans teammates, Tewatia expressed that the nickname does not affect him, and all he thinks about is improving his game.


"No, not at all (whether he thinks about 'Iceman' nickname). Cricket is a game of pressure, whoever handles pressure well, is a champion. I am not thinking about what name people have given me. After IPL, I will think about what name people have given me. I just hope that I keep helping my team to win the matches," the leg-break bowler said.


Tewatia has scored 217 runs in the fifteen games he has played in IPL 2022. He deep-dived into explaining his mindset about batting after a dull last season.


"I feel this year I have scored more boundaries on the off-side as compared to leg-side. Last year, my leg-side area was on the dominant side but this year, I worked on my off-side play. I executed my plans, at the end of the day, if your plans are executed in the match, it benefits your team as well," he added.


The Pandya-led side will take on Rajasthan Royals (RR) in the final of IPL on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

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Australian players were sympathetic towards Pakistan public for the issues they faced during their tour: Fawad Ahmed

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