IPL 2025: MI Captain Hardik Encourages Young Players to 'Trust in Themselves'
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Synopsis
As the 2025 IPL season nears, MI's Hardik Pandya advises young players to trust themselves and keep a balanced mindset. He emphasizes overcoming self-doubt and the importance of perseverance in their cricketing journey.
Key Takeaways
- Believe in yourself amidst self-doubt.
- Maintain a neutral mindset during highs and lows.
- Perseverance and resilience are vital for growth.
- Established players can share valuable lessons.
- Success is achievable through hard work and commitment.
New Delhi, March 17 (NationPress) The 2025 season of the Indian Premier League (IPL) is just around the corner, and Mumbai Indians’ captain Hardik Pandya emphasized his message for young players entering the ten-team tournament: to trust in themselves and maintain a neutral mindset amid the fluctuations.
"The young athletes joining the IPL possess remarkable talent. My advice to them is straightforward—trust in your abilities. They are here because they have proven themselves, but the primary obstacle at this stage is self-doubt. Occasionally, players question their place at this level, and such doubt can diminish their skill set.
“Addressing that mental aspect is vital. The insights I can share stem from my experiences over the years. In this sport, there are peaks and valleys. The secret is to stay balanced, not just for one season but throughout their careers. Remaining neutral will help them to maximize opportunities and capitalize on critical moments.
“They will encounter significant challenges, but often all they require is a touch of patience. In terms of abilities, they are well ahead of where we stood at 21 or 22. Their talent and courageous approach are already evident—it’s merely about bolstering their self-belief," Pandya conveyed to JioHotstar.
MI, who ended up at the bottom of the points table in IPL 2024, will kick off their 2025 journey in Chennai against the five-time champions Chennai Super Kings (CSK) on March 23, followed by a match against Gujarat Titans (GT), a team Pandya led to victory in the 2022 season, on March 29 in Ahmedabad.
Pandya elaborated on the significance of perseverance and resilience in a cricketer’s journey while navigating various career phases, sharing his personal experiences. "For me, it has always been about never abandoning the battlefield. There have been stages in my career where my focus wasn’t solely on winning but on enduring and standing my ground.
"I recognized that regardless of the circumstances surrounding me, cricket would always be my staunch ally—it was my path forward. I persevered, and when all the hard work eventually bore fruit, it exceeded anything I could have scripted.
Last year was a tumultuous time for Pandya—from facing boos as he led MI in IPL 2024 to becoming a pivotal player in India’s T20 World Cup victory and the recent Champions Trophy.
"The six-month period during which we claimed the World Cup, coupled with the overwhelming support I received upon my return—it was a complete 360-degree transformation for me. Throughout that time, I understood that if I remained persistent, committed to my work, and gave my utmost effort, I would emerge stronger. I was uncertain when that would occur, but as the saying goes, destiny had its design, and in my situation, everything shifted within two and a half months," he concluded.
