IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya 2.0 and the Gujarat Titans success story

Hardik Pandya read George Bernard Shaw during his long injury layoff. "Life isn't about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself," is a famous Bernard Shaw quote. And from 2018 to now, Hardik seems to have been on a mission to recreate himself. Rolling back the years to 2018 - Hardik was stretchered off the field. It was in an Asia Cup game against Pakistan when he pulled a muscle in his back while bowling and had to be carried off the field. Hardik has moved in and out of the physiotherapy room since that day until almost re-creating himself for his debut as skipper of Gujarat Titans in IPL 2022. Hardik the all-rounder, who dreamt of being spoken of in the same breath as Kapil Dev someday, has recreated himself into Hardik the comeback man. He is bowling again, he is his team's leading run-getter so far in IPL 2022 (413 runs in 13 innings) and has also earned the tag of 'talismanic' skipper for debutant team, the Gujarat Titans, who became the first team to qualify for the playoffs this season.

Hardik Pandya (ANI Photo)HARDIK - AN 'ASTUTE' LEADER IN THE MAKING?Hardik was a pre-auction signing ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction. The Titans wanted to make him their captain and they went ahead with that plan. It was a call that raised many eyebrows. How can Hardik, who has never captained before, lead a team that is making its debut in the world's biggest cricket league? Will Hardik be able to justify his role of skipper? Is Hardik the best suited for the role? Well, Hardik has silenced his critics in style. The Titans have been the best team of the tournament by a mile this season, with 10 wins and just 4 losses. They were the first team to make the playoffs cut and once the only team that has got to 20 points.