Hardik Pandya just like MS Dhoni as captain: Gujarat Titans spinner Sai Kishore

Having watched each of them from shut quarters, Gujarat Titans spinner R Sai Kishore feels that his franchise skipper Hardik Pandya is similar to legendary MS Dhoni by way of management traits. Sai Kishore, earlier than becoming a member of Gujarat Titans, was with CSK for a few years.

“Hardik and Mahi bhai (MS Dhoni) are pretty similar in the way they handle things, they both are pretty calm,” Sai Kishore advised the media throughout a digital interplay session on Friday.

“One thing that I really admire about Hardik is his ability to handle success and failure equally – that is something very unique about him. He is a level-headed guy and that works (for him),” he added.

“The tag of being defending champions is up to us whether to take it or not. We played well last year and that is why we won. I think if we can do that (then) the tag won’t matter much,” he mentioned.

Sai Kishore mentioned the brand new rule of getting an ‘Impact Player’ in IPL will make it extra manageable than what it was in home circuit.

“It is more like the super-sub rule where we can either use a bowler or a batsman. It is basically like playing with 12 people. We have already played with this (rule) in domestic (cricket). The only change is that we can use it till the 20th over, in domestic it was restricted to the 14th over. In 20 overs, it should be a lot easier to handle,” he mentioned.

The Tamil Nadu left-arm spinner mentioned he’s eyeing a spot within the Indian facet by way of sturdy performances within the IPL.

“Yes, there are a lot of left-arm spinners in India and this (IPL) is a very good opportunity but I would like to be here now in the present and play well for Gujarat. In the last five years, my skill-set has gone up and I want to keep improving. If it happens that I do very well in the IPL, I am going to play for India,” he mentioned.

However, Sai Kishore admitted that he has to enhance his batting to come back into the nationwide reckoning.

“It is a work in progress. I have done well in domestic (cricket) also. I know the areas where I am good at and areas where I need to work on. I am trying to put in hours into my batting and fielding,” he mentioned.

“In the IPL and higher you go, you want to bat at the top. In Tamil Nadu, I have had the luxury of batting at the top in a few games. The death overs batting needs more work and attention. Finding a pattern or formula to score quick runs is what I am working on,” Sai Kishore concluded.