The Director of Cricket of the Ahmedabad franchise in the upcoming IPL 2022 edition, Vikram Solanki has termed captain Hardik Pandya a talented multi-dimensional cricketer and a proven match-winner in T20 format. Pandya was not retained by the Mumbai Indians team and was bought ahead of the IPL mega auction by the Ahmedabad franchise.
Former England cricketer Vikram Solanki left his role as Head Coach of Surrey County Cricket Club in order to take over as a Director of Cricket in the Ahmedabad franchise in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
"Hardik is a very exciting cricketer. He is super talented and he has energy for the game which is second to none. In this format, he is a proven winner. He has won a number of titles for Mumbai. We are looking for that experience to be shared with our group. As far as a leader that point in itself, his leadership skills were apparent in his senior role in those championship winning teams for Mumbai.
We are hoping that all of that experience will help us in his own right as far as the cricketer is concerned he is as exciting as anybody playing the game at the moment. He is a very talented multi-dimensional cricketer bat, ball or field and what is particularly pleasing is that he is a local boy. So, I am sure all of the fans around Ahmedabad and Gujarat will associate with him and will support his endeavors to make this a successful team," said the Director of Cricket of the Ahmedabad franchise Vikram Solanki to ANI.
Apart from Hardik, the Ahmedabad franchise also purchased Shubman Gill and Afghanistan’s sensational spinner Rashid Khan. Ashish Nehra has been appointed as the head coach of the franchise, while Gary Kirsten is the batting coach and mentor of the new franchise.
"Yes, we are very pleased with the first three players we have managed to get on board. It has taken some work, some conversations and everybody has been involved in terms of the management group. They played a part in acquiring these three very exciting players," Solanki told ANI.
Vikram Solanki also talked about the upcoming IPL 2022 mega auction in which 590 players will be available for the franchises to bid on.
"Like all the other teams I am sure all are doing exactly the same thing. We got our first three. We got to do a lot of work in between now and the auction as the conversations are ongoing with those guys that you have mentioned. We are taking input from everybody. I am glad you mentioned Hardik. We will take a lot of input from Hardik, Ashish, and Gary and figure out a way on how to approach an auction," explained Vikram Solanki.
Solanki further said that the Ahmedabad cricket fans will be excited for the new franchise from their hometown and requested them to provide as much support as possible since they are starting from scratch.
"Just to come out and support us. We are very much at the start of the journey. We are starting afresh and it is hugely exciting but there is a lot of work for us to do. We request you to be patient, give us your support, give us your love and we are very much looking forward to making Ahmedabad a team you are proud of," said Solanki.
(ANI inputs)
