Want to win T20 World Cup for India: Hardik Pandya

Ahmedabad: Winning the maiden IPL trophy in his team's debuting year, Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya said that he wishes to win the ICC Men's T20 World Cup for India. Meanwhile, former England skipper Michael Vaughan opined that Pandya could make a great skipper for team India in the future, IANS reported.

Pandya said, "Absolutely, to win the World Cup for India no matter what happens. I am going to give it everything I have. (I'm) Always been the kind of guy to put the team first. For me, the goal will be simple: to make sure my team gets it the most."

He added, "Playing for India has always been a kind of a dream come true, no matter how many games I have played. It has always been a pleasure for me to represent the country. The kind of love and support I have got it is only from the Indian team's point of view."

In the 2016 T20 World Cup, India had lost to West Indies in the semis, and the latter won the cup that year. In the following year, India fell before rivals Pakistan in the Champions Trophy final, where Pandya was the leading run taker. Pandya again contributed a blasting performance for India in the 2019 ICC Cricket World Cup, but India got out in the Semis against New Zealand.

Hours post Gujarat's victory over Rajasthan in the IPL 2022 final, Vaughan tweeted, "Fantastic achievement for a new franchise... If India needs a captain in a couple of years, I wouldn't look past @hardikpandya7... Well done Gujurat .. #IPL2022."

Gujarat kept leading in the points table through this season, and Pandya's all-rounder efforts, along with captaincy skills, were applauded by many. In the final game, Gujarat Titans beat Rajasthan Royals for seven wickets to win their maiden trophy at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which was brimming with record attendance.