Sunil Gavaskar Compares Hardik Pandya's Captaincy to MS Dhoni's Ethos

image-li5jyblaHardik Pandya will be up against his idol MS Dhoni in IPL 2023 final (IPLT20.com)

Former Indian cricketer, Sunil Gavaskar, has showered accolades upon Hardik Pandya, extolling the Gujarat Titans (GT) captain for surpassing all expectations as the captain of an Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise, guiding his side to two consecutive IPL finals.

As the much-anticipated IPL 2023 final between Gujarat and Chennai Super Kings (CSK) looms on the horizon, set to unfold in Ahmedabad on Sunday, Gavaskar voiced his conviction that this grand stage will provide Pandya with a splendid opportunity to showcase how he has learned the craft of captaincy.

While speaking to Star Sports, Gavaskar acknowledged Pandya's overt admiration and fondness for MS Dhoni. He envisaged a friendly and amicable ambiance between the two captains during the coin toss. However, the legendary batter astutely pointed out that once the match commences, an entirely different atmosphere will envelop the field.

"He (Hardik Pandya) has been very open about his admiration and affection for MSD, just like all those who have followed MSD's career. When they go out to the toss, they will be very friendly and smiling all that. But when it comes to the match, it will be a completely different atmosphere. It's a very good opportunity from Hardik Pandya to show how quickly he has learned," said Gavaskar.

The Indian veteran reckoned that when Pandya assumed the captaincy mantle for the first time last year, there was uncertainty surrounding his leadership capabilities, given his reputation as an exhilarating and exuberant cricketer. However, he added that over the course of the past year, the lanky all-rounder has exhibited glimpses of that exuberance, while also cultivating a remarkable sense of composure akin to the enigmatic Dhoni.

Gavaskar highlighted the calmness that Pandya instills in his team, drawing parallels to MSD's ethos of fostering a harmonious and joyful environment. In this regard, the former cricketer attributed significant credit to Pandya for the happiness that pervades Gujarat Titans, aligning with the atmosphere synonymous with the Chennai Super Kings.

"When he was captaining for the first time last year, nobody knew what to expect because he has been one of the most exciting and excitable cricketer as well. But that excitable part, we have seen over the last year. The calmness that he brings into the team is reminiscent of MSD. This is a happy team, which is exactly what we see with CSK as well. Hardik has to take a lot of credit for that," added the batting maestro.

It is worth mentioning that in the face of adversity and skepticism, the Pandya-led Gujarat Titans defied all odds as they clinched the IPL title in their inaugural season. They once again have the opportunity to defend their title in the upcoming high-stakes final against CSK.