20-year-old Sherfane Rutherford made a name for himself when he smashed a century playing for West Indies B in the inaugural Global T20 Canada back in July 2018. A few months later in December, Sherfane got to represent West Indies in his first-ever T20I against Bangladesh. Subsequently, in 2019, Sherfane also made his IPL debut playing for the Delhi Capitals.

On July 31, Sherfane Rutherford replaced Mayank Markande in a trade with DC to join the four-time IPL winners, Mumbai Indians.

In his first-ever interview with mumbaiindians.com, Sherfane spoke about his eagerness to join MI, why he adores Hardik Pandya and what he brings to the table.

Excerpts from the interview…

Q: What is it like being a part of MI?

Rutherford: Well, first of all, I want to thank God for this opportunity. I must say, it is a great feeling. Words cannot explain how happy I am to be a part of the most successful IPL team and also to have some of the best players in the world around. It is a dream come true for me.

I have been watching IPL since 2008 and have seen some of the finest players from West Indies play for Mumbai Indians. Now I will be joining the same team, which is great. I just want to make the best of this opportunity.

Q: If you had to name one MI player you are excited to play with, who would that be?

Rutherford: I always wanted to meet Hardik Pandya because he is one of my favourite players. He is an all-rounder and there is a lot to learn from him.

Q: Do you fancy the shorter boundaries at Wankhede - your new home ground?

Rutherford: As a batsman, you know when you see a ground with shorter boundaries, it gives you some confidence. So, I will be happy to be there playing at the Wankhede.

Q: Thoughts on playing under a leader like Rohit?

Rutherford: Rohit is a player I absolutely admire. He is cool and calm, and to be playing under his captaincy will always be a privilege.

Q: What can the fans expect from you?

Rutherford: My role will probably be similar to that of Hardik Pandya and Ben Cutting, who, according to me, are two of the finest finishers in the modern game. I want to learn from them and make the best use of the opportunities I get.

Q: What is your next immediate goal?

Rutherford: My dream is to play the T20 World Cup. I have been working hard towards it and will continue to do my best to live it up to West Indies' high standards for the opportunity.

We welcome Sherfane Rutherford to One Family and wish him all the luck before IPL 2020.