Hardik Pandya's IPL 2026 wishlist: A sixth title, and the extension of legacy

Hardik Pandya said his ultimate dream is to lift the sixth IPL title for Mumbai Indians but he wants his legacy to be of passion and hard work. "The ultimate dream is to win the IPL for the sixth time," the Mumbai Indians skipper said on Sunday.

"At the same time, it's about building a legacy. Mumbai Indians already have an incredible legacy, but I still remember when I was a new kid - the passion, the hard work, and how the team backed me and helped me grow.

"Going forward, I want that culture to continue - where players step up, work hard and play the best kind of cricket. I want us to represent the best cricket Mumbai Indians have ever played, and the best cricket I've ever played. That's the legacy I want to leave-for myself and for the franchise."

Mumbai Indians have won five IPL titles - 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020. Pandya, meanwhile, has five IPL titles to his name - four with MI and one with the Gujarat Titans in 2022. On Sunday, Pandya interacted with fans at the MI fan zone, known as MIX.

A premier all-rounder in world cricket, Hardik Pandya played a key role in India's recent World Cup triumph. The semifinal against England at the Wankhede Stadium was a closely fought contest, with the Indian team, backed by cheering fans, winning by seven runs. Pandya now hopes to recreate a similar atmosphere at the venue, where the fans passionately backed the team.

"The kind of atmosphere we created for the India vs England semifinal at the Wankhede was incredible. When the fans get behind you like that, it lifts the entire team - and that's exactly what I expect from them. The fans are the voice of the team. They stand by you in both good and bad times, and that's what the MI Paltan has always done. They should be very proud of that."

Pandya (32) recalled how he was spotted by MI scouts during a Ranji match in Baroda during 2014-15 season. "I was just a batter who had spent his entire youth-17, 18, 19 years doing one thing: working hard. If someone asked me to run 12 rounds, I'd run 15.

"Then, out of the blue, someone noticed me. A year later, I was playing the Ranji Trophy. During one of those games, Mumbai Indians scouts were in the stadium-not even to watch me. But that's the beauty of it. Luckily, I did well in that game."

Mumbai Indians's scouts are famous and credited with spotting talent like Jasprit Bumrah, apart from Pandya of course. "It speaks volumes about their scouting system. They weren't there specifically for me, yet they identified that I had something special and could be part of their setup for a long time. That's what Mumbai Indians scouting is all about-and it's fantastic. You don't see that very often."

Kieron Pollard, the MI batting coach, said he is excited by the fearlessness and youthful energy of the youngsters in the side. "The bravery and youthful exuberance these players bring is remarkable. I think it all started when this individual (pointing at Pandya) came into our setup - larger than life, but someone who works incredibly hard and delivers on the field. That's what the next generation is seeing.

"When they come into our camp, they are fearless - and that's exactly what we want. That's what Mumbai Indians are about: a fearless brand of cricket. These guys are ready from the outset, and that excites me a lot."