Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya has replaced veteran batsman Rohit Sharma as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Pandya’s future was predicted by Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, way before he made it big in IPL and international cricket. Pandya who joined the Indian Premier League side, Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2015, after being picked in a trial by John Wright, impressed the Master Blaster with his batting style and approach.
In a television program when the host revealed about Sachin’s impression on Pandya, the current MI captain was stunned as he had no knowledge about it.
The host asked Pandya, “Did you know that you were a champion from the start.”
When the all-rounder expressed his ignorance about it, the host said, “Once when I met Master Blaster Sachin Tendulkar, I asked him about an emerging cricketer. At that time you had not made your debut. In response to my question, Sachin said, ‘There is a guy named Hardik Pandya. He plays shots so ferociously that nobody even puts his hands to the ball.’ We knew that you were a champion before.”
In reply, Pandya said that he had no knowledge about the incident. He even thanked the host for sharing the incident with him.
Sachin’s prediction was right as Pandya went on to emerge as a promising all-rounder for Team India later. He also brought laurels for his IPL franchise Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans.