The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league. One of the prime candidates to win the IPL 2024 title will be five-time champions Mumbai Indians who will be under new leadership from the upcoming campaign. Hardik Pandya, who will resume his second stint with the Mumbai-based side, reflected on his journey and called the 2015 season as his best having won the title that year.

<h2>Hardik on 2015 IPL</h2>

“The first title holds a special place in my memory as it (2015) was the best year of my career. My two best performances came in the knockout stage of the season’s IPL, so It goes down as a memorable moment for me,” Hardik said while speaking in a programme in Mumbai.

Pandya, who returned to Mumbai on the deadline day of the trade window in November, will take over from Rohit Sharma, who successfully led the franchise to five IPL titles during his stint as the skipper of the side. He now joins the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Ricky Ponting to lead the record IPL champions.

The announcement on December 15 came as a big surprise for the cricket fraternity after Rohit decided to step down from his role as captain.&nbsp;Pandya, having led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the previous two seasons, will now look to help his new team, Mumbai Indians, clinch the title.

Interestingly, Pandya's first year with GT saw him lead them to glory after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 tournament. Pandya also acts as deputy to Rohit in the Indian cricket team but is currently nursing an injury.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/cricket/psl-franchise-owner-calls-out-pakistan-cricket-over-humiliating-pacer-haris-rauf-696295">PSL franchise owner calls out Pakistan Cricket over 'humiliating' pacer Haris Rauf</a>

<h2>Rohit’s stint as captain</h2>

Rohit took over the captaincy&nbsp;in 2013 from Ricky Ponting in the middle of the season and led the team to their first IPL title.&nbsp; He then led Mumbai to victories in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 during which Pandya was part of the side. Rohit went on to become the most successful captain in the history of the tournament. Later, MS Dhoni in 2023 helped his team Chennai Super Kings bag the title for the fifth time and joined Rohit Sharma to achieve the feat of most titles.&nbsp;

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) season is all set to kick off on March 22 as franchises flex their muscle to conquer the crown in the country’s biggest franchise league. One of the prime candidates to win the IPL 2024 title will be five-time champions Mumbai Indians who will be under new leadership from the upcoming campaign. Hardik Pandya, who will resume his second stint with the Mumbai-based side, reflected on his journey and called the 2015 season as his best having won the title that year. Hardik on 2015 IPL “The first title holds a special place in my memory as it (2015) was the best year of my career. My two best performances came in the knockout stage of the season’s IPL, so It goes down as a memorable moment for me,” Hardik said while speaking in a programme in Mumbai. Pandya, who returned to Mumbai on the deadline day of the trade window in November, will take over from Rohit Sharma, who successfully led the franchise to five IPL titles during his stint as the skipper of the side. He now joins the likes of Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh and Ricky Ponting to lead the record IPL champions. The announcement on December 15 came as a big surprise for the cricket fraternity after Rohit decided to step down from his role as captain. Pandya, having led Gujarat Titans (GT) in the previous two seasons, will now look to help his new team, Mumbai Indians, clinch the title. Interestingly, Pandya's first year with GT saw him lead them to glory after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final of the 2022 tournament. Pandya also acts as deputy to Rohit in the Indian cricket team but is currently nursing an injury. ALSO READ | PSL franchise owner calls out Pakistan Cricket over 'humiliating' pacer Haris Rauf Rohit’s stint as captain Rohit took over the captaincy in 2013 from Ricky Ponting in the middle of the season and led the team to their first IPL title. He then led Mumbai to victories in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020 during which Pandya was part of the side. Rohit went on to become the most successful captain in the history of the tournament. Later, MS Dhoni in 2023 helped his team Chennai Super Kings bag the title for the fifth time and joined Rohit Sharma to achieve the feat of most titles.

IPL 2024: The maiden title holds a special place in memory - Hardik Pandya reflects on first stint with MI

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya has warned other teams of his blistering form ahead of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/topics/ipl">Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020</a>, scheduled to start from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hardik hasn’t played international cricket for long now after suffering a back injury which required surgery. However, Hardik would like to make an instant impact when he takes to the field for four-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians.

Hardik was supposed to come back to the Indian team in the series against South Africa in March. However, after the first washed out match, the series was postponed due to coronavirus outbreak in the country.

The flamboyant all-rounder, ahead of their <a href="https://www.wionews.com/ipl-2020">IPL 2020</a> season opener against Chennai Super Kings, said that injuries will always be a part of his life but it has taught him to value his fitness more while putting extra yards during training.&nbsp;

“In my life, I have realised one thing that injuries would be with me. No one wants to get injured but I accept the fact that what I do, injuries will be a part,” Hardik said in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of Mumbai Indians.

TRENDING:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/watch-ms-dhoni-and-co-gear-up-for-ipl-2020-with-a-practice-match-327751">Watch: MS Dhoni and Co. gear up for IPL 2020 with a practice match</a>

“Injuries have always kept me going, always kept me motivated, actually taught me how much I have to put hard yards and the hard work has always increased, never decreased.

“I have always felt that if you go one step ahead in your fitness, there are many more magical moments in your life waiting,” the cricketer said.

Hardik was in sensational form when he played in DY Patil T20 earlier this year and was hitting the ball for fun. The 26-year-old said he is top shape physically and mentally while adding he wants to make a strong comeback in the T20 tournament.&nbsp;

ALSO READ:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2020-rajasthan-royals-star-all-rounder-ben-stokes-availability-still-in-doubt-327719" hreflang="en">IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals' star Ben Stokes' availability still in doubt</a>

"The way I am hitting the ball right now, the shape and mental space I am in, it is just a matter of time that I go and spend some time on the ground and I think things will come out pretty well.

“IPL is something I have really enjoyed and I would like to make a comeback very strong, just looking forward to it,” Pandya said.

Defending champions Mumbai Indians will lock horns with three-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya has warned other teams of his blistering form ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, scheduled to start from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya has warned other teams of his blistering form ahead of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2020, scheduled to start from September 19 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Hardik hasn’t played international cricket for long now after suffering a back injury which required surgery. However, Hardik would like to make an instant impact when he takes to the field for four-time IPL winners Mumbai Indians. Hardik was supposed to come back to the Indian team in the series against South Africa in March. However, after the first washed out match, the series was postponed due to coronavirus outbreak in the country. The flamboyant all-rounder, ahead of their IPL 2020 season opener against Chennai Super Kings, said that injuries will always be a part of his life but it has taught him to value his fitness more while putting extra yards during training. “In my life, I have realised one thing that injuries would be with me. No one wants to get injured but I accept the fact that what I do, injuries will be a part,” Hardik said in a video posted on the official Twitter handle of Mumbai Indians. TRENDING: Watch: MS Dhoni and Co. gear up for IPL 2020 with a practice match “Injuries have always kept me going, always kept me motivated, actually taught me how much I have to put hard yards and the hard work has always increased, never decreased. “I have always felt that if you go one step ahead in your fitness, there are many more magical moments in your life waiting,” the cricketer said. Hardik was in sensational form when he played in DY Patil T20 earlier this year and was hitting the ball for fun. The 26-year-old said he is top shape physically and mentally while adding he wants to make a strong comeback in the T20 tournament. ALSO READ: IPL 2020: Rajasthan Royals' star Ben Stokes' availability still in doubt "The way I am hitting the ball right now, the shape and mental space I am in, it is just a matter of time that I go and spend some time on the ground and I think things will come out pretty well. “IPL is something I have really enjoyed and I would like to make a comeback very strong, just looking forward to it,” Pandya said. Defending champions Mumbai Indians will lock horns with three-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the season opener in Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

IPL 2020: 'The way I am hitting the ball...' - Hardik Pandya upbeat about his form

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IPL 2024: The maiden title holds a special place in memory - Hardik Pandya reflects on first stint with MI

IPL 2020: 'The way I am hitting the ball...' - Hardik Pandya upbeat about his form