"MS Dhoni Played Big Role...": Hardik Pandya Praises Former India Captain

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya said on Wednesday that legendary wicketkeeper MS Dhoni played a big role in his growth. Hardik Pandya has been getting a lot of acclaim this year, be it for his superb all-round show with bat and ball or his captaincy that helped Gujarat Titans clinch their maiden Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their debut season. "I was just a new kid trying to learn new things about life and sport. MS Dhoni has played a big role in my growth. Whenever I got an opportunity, I used to observe him and learn things," said Pandya on Star Sports.

"The kind of mindset and knowledge he had, just observing it, it has reflected in my personality on the field," he added.

Pandya said that he always wanted responsibility since when one owns something, it becomes more personal to him.

"It was about owning my mistakes, taking my chances, failing and learning from them. Sometimes, it is failures that teaches you, not your closest confide, not your aid and to a good extent even Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni). Some failures, you just experience and you learn from them," he added.

Pandya said that his failures helped him understand his role better and to find out which roles he is good at, how he could get better in his roles.

The star all-rounder, who will turn 29 in October said that the last four years of his life has been his most important.

"The way things shaped, I cannot put this all in words. It was a learning phase for me," he added.

On the art of finishing, Pandya said that the good finishing touch from the lower order or finisher is important.

"You might go to a restaurant, the food could be amazing but if there is no finishing touch, it does not add the charm to the dish no matter how it tastes. The look of