Hardik Pandya a talented multi-dimensional cricketer: Vikram Solanki

Team Ahmedabad director Vikram Solanki has heaped praise on his side's captain Hardik Pandya, saying that he is a multi-dimensional cricketer and they look to the all-rounder to share all his title-winning experience with the team.

Pandya's stint with the Mumbai Indians (MI) came to an end after the five-time champions did not retain him and was then appointed the captain of the new Indian Premier League (IPL) side.

“Hardik is a very exciting cricketer. He is super talented and he has energy for the game which is second to none. In this format, he is a proven winner. He has won a number of titles for Mumbai," Solanki told ANI.

"We are looking for that experience to be shared with our group. As far as a leader that point in itself, his leadership skills were apparent in his senior role in those Championship winning teams for Mumbai. We are hoping that all of that experience will help us in his own right as far as cricketer is concerned he is as exciting as anybody playing the game at the moment."

"He is a very talented multi-dimensional cricketer bat, ball or field and what is particularly pleasing is that he is a local boy. So, I am sure all of the fans around Ahmedabad and Gujarat will associate with him and will support his endeavours to make this a successful team."

Speaking of the coaching department which includes World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten and Ashish Nehra, Solanki said,  “Yes, we have certainly got a lot of international experience in place as far as Gary and Ashish are concerned. Ashish obviously will head up the coaching side of the things and he has worked as all three of us have together before."

"To have the understanding of how each other work we are really looking forward to how each other work. We are really looking forward to sort of getting started to work on this project."

"Like us, we have said we are really pleased with the three players we have signed. It has come about through a lot of collaboration through not only those guys but a lot of those guys who are involved in the project as well."

Along with Pandya, Ahmedabad have also roped in Rashid Khan and young Indian batter Shubman Gill for INR 15 crore and 8 crore respectively. The first order of business for the Ahmedabad franchise is the IPL mega auction which will take place in Bangalore on February 12 and 13.

“Like all the other teams I am sure all are doing exactly the same thing. We got our first three. We got to do a lot of work in between now and the auction as the conversations are ongoing with those guys that you have mentioned. We are taking input from everybody. 

"We will take a lot of input from Hardik, Ashish and Gary and figure out a way on how to approach an auction,” Solanki said on the strategy at the auction.

“Absolutely everybody will try to be as planned as they possibly can be and that is the right thing to do and one has strategies in place and try and have plans in place. Try and have options in place but of course how the action plays out is an entirely different matter.

"One plan, two plans, three plans and on and on but I suppose that is a part of the attraction of the auction. It is a mega event in itself as it is named. So, I am sure there will be lots of sort of exciting viewership for everybody that is watching our auction and equally it will be a huge sort of a thing to be excited about being part of it," Solanki added.