Sunil Gavaskar, the iconic Indian batsman, highlighted the amusement expressed by Hardik Pandya, captain of the Gujarat Titans (GT), towards MS Dhoni, the skipper of the Chennai Super Kings (CSK), during the IPL 2023 final. Gavaskar also emphasized that this final presents a wonderful opportunity for Hardik to showcase how swiftly he has grasped the intricacies of captaincy.

“Hardik, like many others who have followed the illustrious career of MSD, openly admires and holds affection for him. When they meet for the toss, they will share friendly smiles and camaraderie. However, once the match commences, the atmosphere will completely transform. This is a fantastic chance for Hardik Pandya to demonstrate his rapid learning,” stated the 73-year-old during an interview with Star Sports.

“Last year, when he captained for the first time, there was uncertainty surrounding what to expect because he has always been one of the most exciting and exuberant cricketers. But over the past year, we have witnessed his composure on the field. The calmness he brings to the team is reminiscent of MSD. It’s evident that this is a content and harmonious team, similar to what we observe with CSK. Hardik deserves significant credit for fostering such an environment,” Gavaskar further added.