00:00Just hours after Hardik Pandya sealed his move to the Punjab Kings,
00:04India Today spoke exclusively with franchise co-owner Neswadia.
00:08He reveals that the deal was in the works for over a month
00:11before adding that there is only once a punch in his team.
00:15Here's an excerpt from that interview.
00:18Was it you as a franchise that was keen to have Hardik knowing that he may be up for grabs
00:24or was Am I the one that made the first approach
00:27because they were interested in getting someone like Anarshdi?
00:30I think it was mutual.
00:31You know, I think they were keen and we spoke
00:36and it's been going on for maybe a plus or minus a month.
00:42I think everyone's happy with it.
00:44Mumbai are happy.
00:45We are happy.
00:47Our captain, Shreyas, is happy.
00:49Rikki and Hardik has worked with Rikki in the past.
00:54And I think, you know, overall it's a win-win for both franchises.
00:58That was going to be my next question because you speak about Rikki Ponting.
01:03You talk about Shreyas Iyer.
01:04Who was really instrumental in bringing Hardik there?
01:08I know that Shreyas and Hardik share a very close bond.
01:11I also know that Rikki Ponting worked with Hardik Pandya during his time in MI.
01:16I remember Hardik in one of the very old interviews even calling him like a father figure.
01:20So, who really was that one who ensured that, you know, Hardik comes?
01:24To be honest, you know, it's everyone.
01:27Everyone has played their part.
01:28You know, I don't think this could have happened with one person saying no or saying yes.
01:34I think it's a collective effort and that's the beauty.
01:37You know, it's incredible.
01:38But everyone thought it was a good thing to do.
01:41Players are happy.
01:43You know, the cricketing coach and captain is happy.
01:47Everyone in the franchise is happy.
01:49And I think the fans will be happy, you know, in both franchises.
01:54A couple of things that may have been under consideration when you went ahead with this deal.
01:58And I want to talk to you about that.
02:00First, the captaincy.
02:02You know, Shreyas has been there.
02:04Hardik's been a proven performer as a captain.
02:07Albeit the last few seasons didn't go his way.
02:10Was that ever under discussion that maybe we might need to change?
02:14Or you were always clear in your mind, Shreyas remains the Sarpanch, the leader.
02:19Hardik, happy to play under him?
02:21There is only one Sarpanch.
02:24Jui Chabla, another owner of an IPL franchise, recently came out and said,
02:28and kind of reinforced what Lalit Modi had said,
02:31that you need a better, larger window for the IPL.
02:34She's actually said, you know, why not January be that time where we have the IPL?
02:39Your thoughts on that?
02:40I think Lalit's right, you know, and so has Juhi.
02:43But again, the international calendar, the domestic calendar.
02:48Yes, of course, you know, today, I mean, if you just look at the IPL the last few years,
02:52there's been a little bit more rain, okay?
02:55There's been a little bit more heat than normal.
02:58Okay, it's tough for the players to also play.
03:02And at the end of the day, they've played the full domestic season.
03:05Some of them come from international matches, you know, for their respective countries,
03:09and then they play IPL.
03:10If it can be in January, yes, that would be wonderful.
03:15And hopefully an extended window.
03:17But I think the first thing we need is an extended window.
03:21How it'll fit into January, I don't know.
03:24I hope it does.
03:25But yeah, I think it's conceptually a good way forward.
03:30So, you're talking about an extended window.
03:34If I could, you know, get more clarity on that.
03:36You mean, let's say, a three-month-four window?
03:38More matches, which we've been promised earlier.
03:41You know, enhancing that.
03:44I think let's go step-by-step enhancing that.
03:46And then, of course, you know, we are the leading, you know, league in the world.
03:52You know, the Indian Premier League.
03:54And I think I saw Juhi also say something that we should be leaders in that.
03:58I think she's right.
04:00But again, there's a lot of stakeholders involved and to balance it out.
04:03But I'm sure that it's something which could be worked upon.
04:06And if everyone agrees, could fructify.
