New Delhi: Indian cricket team's out-of-favor all-rounder Hardik Pandya's new avatar is all set to stun fans. The hard-hitting batter has been made the captain of Ahmedabad IPL team. Being a captain of a team at such a level is new for Pandya as he had done it only once before in his career, at the U-16 level for Baroda.


The issues regarding Hardik's fitness, his inability to bowl in the past two years led to conjectures about his apparent "lack of communication" with team India management and national selectors. However, Hardik on Tuesday made it clear that "everyone knows" where he stood.


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Despite all the controversies and confusion surrounding him, CVC-owned Ahmedabad franchise made him their skipper ahead of IPL mega-auction.


"They know where I am (in terms of bowling fitness). It has been communicated to everyone," Pandya told PTI.


"Hardik the batter and bowler combined sounds much better than Hardik the batter," he said.


He was asked where is he placed in terms of bowling.


"It will be a surprise for everyone," he said, not revealing much.


Hardik admitted that the criticism he received during ICC Men's T20 World Cup didn't bother him much.


"It's been challenging (not being able to bowl) and I have always given (contributed) in three areas of the game.


"But when I had decided that I wanted to only bat, I just wanted to spend some time on the ground and it has been challenging, yes," he admitted.


Constructive criticism is something that he is looking forward to.


"Healthy criticism is always good, but criticism generally doesn't bother me as I know what I'm doing. I know how much hard yards I have put in. I have always worked hard for the processes and not the result. Results take care of itself when you put in genuine hardwork."


Pandya knows exactly what he would like to imbibe from the three captains he has played under -- Dhoni, Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma.


"From Virat, I will pick his aggression and passion, his energy which is tremendous. From Mahi bhai it's the composure, calmness, remaining same in every situation, trying to see what new things he can add.


"...and from Rohit, I would pick the freedom as he lets the player decide what he wants to do. These three qualities if I can pick up, it will be a very good combination."


(With PTI Inputs)