Young Baroda cricketer Shivalik Sharma is all set to play for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2024 season after he was picked in the auction for a base price of ₹20 lakh as well. While he is not the popular one yet, Mumbai Indians have a speciality in producing world-class cricketers by identifying their potential early as well.
Just like Shivalik, Mumbai signed another uncapped Baroda cricketer way back in 2015 and he is none other than Hardik Pandya, who went on to become the vital cog of the Indian team and Mumbai Indians as well. Meanwhile, Shivalik Sharma has played a bit with Hardik Pandya and he is looking forward to sharing the dressing room and playing under him at MI as well.
Speaking exclusively to Sportskeeda, Shivalik said: “Really excited to play under Hardik bhai. Since he is from Baroda too, I have played with him in a couple of Ranji Trophy games and really enjoyed it. Going to a franchise like the Mumbai Indians who have won so many trophies, I am looking forward to getting groomed and maturing as a cricketer.”It is going to be a massive learning curve for me sharing the dressing room with so many star players and also working under the coaching of legends.”
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However, apart from Hardik Pandya, there are other star Indian players like Rohit Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah as well from whom the youngster wants to learn a lot as well.
He further added, “They have had incredible experience of playing international cricket and definitely there’s a lot to learn from them. Particularly the way they have been so consistent, which is what I feel is so crucial for any player to be successful. I am looking forward to learning how they approach big games, what’s their mindset, how they back themselves to get the job done for the team and that is something that will help me in my growth as well.”
However, Shivalik Sharma had a mix in 2023 as it started with him being dropped from a U25 game. But did well later on.
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On this, Shivalik Sharma shared: “There was an U25 red-ball game this year itself on January 1st. I had played that game and was dropped after just one opportunity. While I was disappointed to have been dropped after just one chance, now when I look back at it, I believe that motivated me to raise the level of my performances. I started the year getting dropped and ended the year by being picked for Mumbai Indians. So that’s a motivation that gives me goosebumps. I have blind trust in God that whatever happens, happens for good.”
“I always knew I could bowl, but initially I didn’t use to work hard on it. One day our team’s senior cricketer Bhargav Bhatt advised me to work on my bowling. He said, ‘Start bowling and you will thank me after six months.’ I really want to thank him as I now work equally hard on all three departments. Even the coaches in our team like Mukund sir and Aravind sir have helped me work on my bowling and I push myself as much as possible to become a handy all-rounder,” Shivalik Sharma concluded.
