IPL 2023: Hardik Pandya is a very cool captain, says Gujarat Titans pacer Shivam Mavi

Gujarat Titans fast bowler Shivam Mavi has stated that Hardik Pandya is a very cool captain. Pandya had led the newly formed Gujarat Titans to glory in IPL 2022 as he has led from the front, with both bat and ball. The all-rounder had got the best out of his players in the previous season as they had come up with a collective show.

Pandya scored 487 runs in 15 matches at an average of 44.27 and a strike rate of 131.26 in IPL 2022. Furthermore, he had scalped eight wickets in 15 matches of the previous season. Moreover, Pandya has grown in confidence as he has led India in T20Is, especially after the T20 World Cup in the absence of Rohit Sharma.

Meanwhile, Shivam Mavi was bought for a huge amount of INR 6 crores in the IPL 2023 mini auction by Gujarat Titans. Mavi had scalped five wickets in six matches while playing for Kolkata Knight Riders in the previous season.

“I am very excited to play for Gujarat Titans. Hardik is a very cool captain. He backs up youngsters who are new to the team. The environment is very friendly. So when a youngster steps in such an environment, it is a good thing for him and he is able to perform better,” said Mavi in a press conference as quoted by ANI.

Mavi made his T20I debut under the leadership of Hardik Pandya while playing against Sri Lanka earlier in the year. The youngster returned with impressive figures of 4-22 in his quota of four overs and revealed the all-rounder was very supportive of him.

“When I played under him for India for the first time…he was very supportive… support is a very important factor and if the captain supports you it feels very good. It is in the hands of the captain and management to create a good atmosphere. You can see that a team performs well if the atmosphere is good,” said Mavi.

Shivam Mavi also opened up about working with Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra, who has all the experience.

“He gives us freedom, he lets us use our time properly on the ground and if you want rest he will allow it. He is like a friend, if you want something you can go and ask him. Sometimes players don’t feel like practising on the ground. In such situations, he doesn’t burden us…he keeps the environment light,”

Gujarat Titans will begin their IPL 2023 campaign against Chennai Super League at their home ground of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad on 31st March.