IPL 2022: Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya makes BIG statement, says ‘we're not here to prove anything’ - WATCH

Hardik Pandya was picked by the Titans via the draft and has been named the captain of the Gujarat-based franchise for the upcoming IPL 2022.

Gujarat Titans' captain Hardik Pandya (Source: Twitter)

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who will be leading the Gujarat Titans in the upcoming IPL 2022 season, has said that they are not in the tournament to prove anything and the side's major focus will be on creating an environment where players can flourish.

Ever since making his first appearance in the IPL in 2015, Pandya had represented Mumbai Indians in the cash-reach league. However, he wasn't retained by Mumbai before the mega auction.

The star all-rounder was picked by the Titans via the draft and has been named the captain of the Gujarat-based franchise.

.@hardikpandya7 is excited ahead of his stint as captain of @gujarat_titans

Watch this space for more! 

Full interview coming soon on https://t.co/4n69KTTxCB pic.twitter.com/zLyOzYYhaN

— IndianPremierLeague (@IPL) March 18, 2022

"I was just spending time with my family, working hard as always. (I'm) making sure I prepare well. I'm quite happy with the team. It is a new team and to be honest, we are not here to prove anyone anything. We are here to play good cricket. We are here to make sure that the environment is right for the players to flourish in their own capacity," Pandya said on Friday in a snippet posted by the official Twitter account of the Indian Premier League.

"There's no expectation as such. We are going to be a team that makes sure it keeps improving," he added.

Gujarat Titans will begin their IPL 2022 campaign with the clash against fellow tournament debutants Lucknow Super Giants -- led by KL Rahul -- on March 28 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

Ye #TATAIPL mein khelna hai toh form-at graphic banana zaroori hai kya? #GujaratTitans pic.twitter.com/ZyonteWYm0

— Gujarat Titans (@gujarat_titans) February 25, 2022

GT are placed alongside Chennai Super Kings, Sunrisers Hyderabad, Royal Challengers Bangalore, and Punjab Kings in Group B.

The side is currently training at their home ground, the Narendra Modi Stadium, in Ahmedabad.

GT squad for IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya (c), Rashid Khan, Shubman Gill, Mohammed Shami, Jason Roy, Lockie Ferguson, Abhinav Sadarangani, Rahul Tewatia, Noor Ahmed, Sai Kishore, Vijay Shankar, Jayant Yadav, Dominic Drakes, Darshan Nalkande, Yash Dayal, Alzarri Joseph, Pradeep Sangwan, David Miller, Wriddhiman Saha, Matthew Wade, Varun Aaron, B Sai Sudharshan.