India all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s journey is well-known. Even his success while playing for Mumbai Indians in the cash-rich Indian Premier League brought him in the limelight. Recently, he shared how former Australia captain Ricky Ponting’s guidance helped him flourish in the game.

Looking back at the old-time, Hardik recalled how Ponting hand-holding him through his early days but he also shared that there was never really one role model for him. He explained that he wanted to pick up different qualities from the legends he was spending time in his career.

"Ricky Ponting was someone who looked after me the best. He looked after me like a child. I used to feel like he was my father figure there,” Hardik Pandya told Cricbuzz. “Ricky taught me so many things, he taught me situations, he taught me mindset, how strong you should be. As a new boy in 2015, I used to sit next to the hoardings. Ricky used to sit down with me and speak about the game. (With all these conversations) I started learning quickly."

However, Ricky Ponting is currently the head coach of the Delhi Capitals. He also said that he is in touch with Kieron Pollard whom he calls his ‘brother’. Even their families are in touch as well and despite all the time differences in the West Indies, they talk at least once in a month. He also looks up to him as his role model.

"I never had one specific role model. I always wanted to learn from the best, different things from different people, and I wanted to combine that in my game - Mahi bhai's calmness, Virat's hunger. From 2015, when I made it to the IPL, I always wanted to learn from people. That's when I realised that Polly is someone who relates to my game."

Along with Hardik Pandya, anther speedster who took the limelight while playing for Mumbai Indians in a dressing room full of stars was young Jasprit Bumrah. Now he is considered as one of the vital cogs of India across the format. However, Hardik said that Bumrah is very different as he is calm and he is someone who likes to be left alone. If he has something to say to someone then he'll initiate the conversation. Even he thinks 20 times before speaking. Although Hardik said that he can never be like Jasprit, he also revealed that he enjoys bowling with him.