'Certain expectations are always kept': Hardik Pandya on challenge of leading Mumbai Indians in IPL

Hardik Pandya admitted there is a 'legacy' factor at Mumbai Indians that makes the task of leading the franchise more daunting than others, something he did at Gujarat Titans.
Pandya led GT to their maiden IPL title in their first year in the competition in 2022. Last year he returned to MI as captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. This decision was strongly opposed by the fans with jeers for the allrounder at their home in Wankhede Stadium and around the country as well.
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Things have taken a massive turn since last edition. Pandya will take the field for MI after playing a key role for India in the T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy triumphs.

"There is the legacy. It's been a team where certain expectations are always kept. To fulfil that is always challenging. But for me it is part of the journey to learn and become an even better captain. So to get smarter, more calculated and increase the ability to take pressure. It is exciting and will involve new learning," said Pandya on Wednesday during the team's pre-season media conference.
"I have wonderful brains (around me) from whom I can take a lot of things and apply it on the field. And that's the goal for me in 2025 to become an even better captain than I've been. To gather as much knowledge and awareness as possible," he added.
It was a forgettable season for Pandya as a player as well. In IPL 2024, Pandya scored just 216 runs in 13 innings without a fifty and picked 11 wickets at an average of 35.18.

He made a massive turnaround in the T20 World Cup where he scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48.00, with a fifty and strike rate of over 151 and 11 wickets at an average of over 17. At the Champions Trophy, he put together 99 runs in four matches at an average of 24.75 and four wickets at an average of over 35. He bowled a match-winning over in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.
MI will kickstart their IPL 2025 campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK), their arch-rivals and five-time champions, at Chepauk Stadium on March 23.