Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya has expressed delight at the way things panned out for them in the IPL mega auction in Jeddah and said the franchise has “found the right mix”of players.

The star all-rounder said they had a clear plan of having a blend of youth and experienced players.

“I was in touch with the table as well, exactly who we are going for, and I think we came out pretty well from the auction and how the team is looking,” he said in a video posted on social media.

“We have found the right mix, which is experienced players, like Boulty (Trent Boult) is back, Deepak Chahar, who has been around, and at the same time, young guns like Will Jacks, Robin Minz and (Ryan) Rickelton, who are fresh.

“So, I think we have done pretty well. We have covered all the bases.”

Explaining the auction dynamics, Pandya admitted that while the entire process is thrilling, it is important to keep emotions in check, especially while going for a particular player the team desperately needs.

“The auction dynamics are always tricky. When you are watching it live, it is very exciting, and the emotions are always up and down because you want this player,” he said.

“But sometimes, you just lose. (So), it’s very important to not be very so emotional, and in the end, we have to create a whole team.”

Mumbai Indians bought quite a few uncapped young players — Naman Dhir, Robin Minz, Vignesh Puthur, Arjun Tendulkar, Bevan John Jacobs, Venkata Satyanarayana Penmetsa, Raj Angad Bawa, Shrijith Krishnan and Ashwani Kumar.

Referring to these youngsters, Pandya urged them to work hard and said thatthey possess the best facilities to help them develop intotop cricketers.

“My message to all the young guns who are joining Mumbai Indians this year is that if you are here, you have that spark, you have that talent, which the scouts have seen,” he said.

“They found me, they found Jasprit (Bumrah), they found Krunal (Pandya), they found Tilak (Varma). They all eventually played forthe country.

“All you have to do is show up, train, work hard, and the best part is that Mumbai Indians have the facility to make them flourish.”

Farewell to Kishan

Pandya also bid an emotional farewell to former teammate Ishan Kishan. The dashing left-hander was snapped up by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

“Ishan has been the freshness and the energy of the room. When we couldn’t retain him, we always knew that it’s gonna be very difficult to get him back from the auction simply because we knew the kind of player and kind of skillset he brings. He always used to keep the dressing room light, made a lot of people smile.

“That love and warmth, it came very natural to himand there will be less cake-smashing, less pranks happening on people. That was Ishan and who used to bring so much love to this team, that is something as a group we are going to miss.”