"I want to be myself, because that's the best way I can get the best out of myself."
That has been Krunal Pandya's captaincy mantra since he was tasked with leading Lucknow Super Giants following KL Rahul's injury. Under his captaincy, LSG have won two of their three completed matches, and have therefore ensured their fate is in their own hands as the race for the playoffs heats up. A win in their last league game, against Kolkata Knight Riders at Eden Gardens, will not only secure playoffs qualification but will also give them a chance of finishing in the top two.
Krunal, the cricketer, too has stepped up while impressing as captain. Against Sunrisers Hyderabad, he produced an MVP performance - according to ESPNcricinfo's Smart Stats - and against his former team Mumbai Indians led with 49 with the bat and an economical bowling spell with the ball to help the side to a crucial win.
"When it comes to captaincy, I don't want to imitate anyone," Krunal told reporters in Kolkata. "I want to learn good things from everyone, but at the same time, I want to be myself. And if I be myself and do it my way, then the chances of me doing well for the team are higher.
"I've played cricket hard, I've played cricket in a certain way, and I am applying the same thing here as well."
Krunal's captaincy stint, in one way, also completes the journey of two brothers from Baroda who dared to dream big. On May 7, the IPL witnessed the first brother vs brother contest when Gujarat Titans' captain Hardik Pandya and Krunal stood side by side at the toss.
By the end of the league stage, the Pandya brothers could also be No. 1 and 2 on the points table, and one reason for their success, Krunal says, is that leadership comes naturally to them.
"Both Hardik and I have played cricket in a certain way, whether we were leaders within the team or not... we have always taken that responsibility," he said. "We have always seen the game as a leader.
"So when you see the game in that way, and then when you get the captaincy, it is slightly easier because you are already seeing the game in that way. What happened to KL is a big loss for us, but I've taken this challenge and I'm looking forward to it."
Earlier in the afternoon, Krunal and Nicholas Pooran unveiled a special jersey for Saturday's game. The maroon-coloured jersey is inspired by the Indian football club Mohun Bagan FC - also owned by Sanjiv Goenka's RPSG group - which has now been rechristened as Mohun Bagan Super Giant.
Krunal hoped that having support from fans of the football club in Kolkata would lift their own performance.
"Yes, I know about Mohun Bagan," Krunal said. "Mohun Bagan won the [ISL] trophy this year. Wherever you go, the more support you get, the better you do. So I request all Mohun Bagan supporters to come out and cheer for us. Our focus is to go out there and play cricket the way Lucknow is known to play."