Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], March 17: Hardik Pandya, the captain of Mumbai Indians (MI) and a prominent Indian all-rounder, recently shared an encouraging message aimed at young players participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He emphasized the importance of self-belief and recounted his own journey of resilience, stating that remaining on the "battlefield" is crucial, and that cricket will always be his "greatest ally."

After taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma, Pandya faced criticism from fans, but he is now celebrated as one of the nation's heroes, having played a pivotal role in MI's victories in the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

In a conversation on JioHotstar, he addressed the young talent in the IPL, saying, "These players are incredibly skilled. My advice is straightforward—believe in yourselves. They are here because they deserve to be, but self-doubt can be a significant hurdle. Managing that mental aspect is vital."

Pandya shared that he can impart valuable lessons from his experiences, particularly the importance of maintaining balance during the ups and downs of a sports career. He noted, "Staying neutral helps them seize opportunities and navigate challenges. They will encounter tough situations, but sometimes, all they need is patience. Their skills are already more advanced than ours were at their age; they just need to reinforce their self-belief."

Reflecting on his own resilience, Pandya recalled the criticism he faced until he led India to victory in the T20 World Cup last year. He mentioned that there were times when his focus shifted from winning to simply surviving and holding his ground. "For me, it has always been about staying in the game. There were moments when my priority was not just winning but enduring. I realized that cricket would always be my ally, guiding me forward. I persevered, and when my efforts finally bore fruit, it exceeded my expectations," he explained.

He also spoke about the transformative six-month period following the World Cup victory, where he experienced immense support upon his return. "I understood that if I remained dedicated and gave my best, I would emerge stronger. I wasn't sure when that would happen, but destiny had its own timeline, and everything changed for me in just two and a half months," he added.

After a challenging IPL 2024 season, where he scored only 216 runs in 13 innings and took 11 wickets, Pandya made a remarkable comeback during the T20 World Cup, scoring 144 runs in six innings and taking 11 wickets. He played a crucial role in India's success, including delivering the decisive over in the T20 World Cup final against South Africa.

MI is set to begin their IPL 2025 season against their rivals, Chennai Super Kings (CSK), at Chepauk Stadium on March 23.