Kirsten joined the Titans as mentor at the team’s inception in 2022, while Pandya was appointed captain. Under their leadership, GT finished top of the league table in the IPL 2022 season, losing only four matches and eventually winning the title in their very first season. The team reached the finals again the following year, cementing their dominance.
The 2022 season was a pivotal moment for Pandya, who had been dropped from Team India after a difficult T20 World Cup 2021 campaign. He overcame injuries to score 487 runs and take eight wickets at an economy rate of 7.27, proving his all-round credentials.
Speaking to Wisden Cricket, Kirsten praised Pandya’s attitude both on and off the field:
“He does have a unique sense of self-belief. When he came to us in 2022, Ashish [Nehra] appointed him captain, and he was in a bit of a strange place in his career. He was in and out of the Indian team, and he needed to prove a point. He is very quirky off the field, quite funny, and has a flamboyant way about him — you almost get the sense he does not care too much, but he does.”
Pandya has continued his impact for India, playing a crucial role in the T20 World Cup 2026, scoring 217 runs in nine matches at a strike rate of 160.74 and picking up nine wickets at an average of 32.33. Kirsten highlighted the all-rounder’s skill with the ball:
“What stood out for me was his ability to do special things with the ball. After being forced to play as a pure batter for a brief period due to his back injury, Hardik ramped up his bowling to function as a proper all-rounder. In IPL 2022, he bowled 30.3 overs and hasn’t looked back since.”
Kirsten also recalled Pandya’s memorable performance in the IPL 2022 final against Rajasthan Royals, where he bowled 4 overs for 3-17, dismissing dangerous batters Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer, earning the Player of the Match award and helping GT lift the trophy by seven wickets.
“We shifted him up the order to No.4 in that IPL, and he played longer innings than usual. His ability to make an impact with both bat and ball is what defines Hardik,” Kirsten concluded.
