For Hardik Tamore, the team always comes first. Since making his First-Class debut for Mumbai in 2019-20, the wicketkeeper-batter has featured in just 22 matches, but for the 27-year-old, individual numbers have never been the priority. Every outing for Mumbai is another chance to live this dream that he has cherished since childhood.
With the domestic season approaching, his focus is clear: to help the team become champion across formats. Currently part of the Mumbai squad at the Buchi Babu Invitational Tournament in Chennai, Tamore sees the competition as the perfect stage to fine-tune his game and prepare for the challenges of the season ahead.
Q: What are your hopes for the season ahead?
A: The goal is to win in all three formats — the Ranji Trophy, Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Vijay Hazare. Last Ranji season didn’t go well for me, but I’ve worked hard coming into this one. I want to score runs, play impactful knocks, and help Mumbai win matches. For me, the team always comes first. Even a fifty in a winning cause matters more than a hundred in a losing one.
Q: You haven’t always had consistent chances in the XI. How do you see that?
A: There’s a lot of competition in Mumbai cricket. So, I can’t say I automatically deserve more opportunities. I’ve been given chances, but didn’t make the most of them. Last year, I played five games but didn’t score much (86 runs at an average of 12.28), so I was dropped. I don’t blame anyone but myself. In Mumbai cricket, you may get only one or two chances. Aakash (Anand) has done really well, and I’m happy for him — we’ve been playing together since childhood.
Q: You’ve also been developing your wicketkeeping. How is that coming along?
A: I’ve been working on my keeping for the last two to three years, with our coaches and earlier at the NCA under Kiran (More) sir. My first job is wicketkeeping — one good catch or stumping can change a game. I just want to keep improving.
Q: How do you compare yourself with keepers like Rishabh Pant and Ishan Kishan, who came through with you?
A: I’ve played with both since Under-19. They scored heavily in domestic cricket — Rishabh made nearly 1000 runs (993) in his first full year, including a triple hundred (308 vs Maharashtra). I also need one or two big seasons like that, scoring 1000-plus runs, to get a shot at the highest level.t
Q: How important is the Duleep Trophy in getting the selectors’ attention?
A: It’s an important tournament. You play with and against international cricketers, so you get to learn a lot. It shows you where your game stands before the Ranji season.
Q: Do you prefer one format over another?
A: I treat all formats equally. When we started playing, we didn’t think of red-ball or white-ball cricket — we just played for the love of the game. That’s still how I see it. Hard work is in my hands; performance is in God’s hands.
Q: Who have been your influences in Mumbai cricket?
A: I’ve been playing with Sarfaraz (Khan) since Under-10. With seniors like Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, and Shardul Thakur, I try to learn as much as I can. Shardul bhai lived near me in Palghar, and I’ve seen his never-give-up attitude since childhood.
Mumbai team after winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K/The Hindu
Mumbai team after winning the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
| Photo Credit:
MURALI KUMAR K/The Hindu
Q: Last year, Mumbai fell short in the Ranji semifinal. How did that feel?
A: It hurt, even though I wasn’t in the XI. We had thought of winning back-to-back Ranji titles, but it didn’t happen. This year, we want to reclaim the trophy. We won the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy last season; this time, we want all three.
Q: Where does the Indian Premier League fit into your ambitions?
A: The IPL is important, but I believe in the process. If I do well in domestic cricket, the rest will follow. Thinking too far ahead without performing doesn’t help.
Q: You mentioned developing your batting shots. How do you approach that?
A: In the nets, I try to learn something new every day. In today’s game, you need all kinds of shots. Sometimes you get out playing the wrong one, but I treat that as learning.
Q: And as a keeper, how do you handle spin, especially on turning pitches?
A: Keeping on turning wickets is actually easier than on flat ones, because the ball comes (to the keeper) more often. On flat wickets, you may only get one chance, so you need sharper focus. On black-soil pitches, you must stay really low, while in Mumbai, you can stand a little higher because of the bounce. These things only come with practice and match experience.
Published on Aug 23, 2025
