Hardik Pandya played a key role in India's T20 World Cup 2024 triumph after a tough IPL campaign.
Hardik Pandya entered the recently held T20 World Cup 2024 on the back of a disastrous IPL 2024 season as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI).
Under his leadership, the five-time champions finished the season at the bottom of the points table and the all-rounder also endured a disappointing campaign with both bat and ball.
Moreover, Hardik was booed by the MI fans on several stadiums for being appointed captain by the franchise management, replacing Rohit Sharma.
Despite the setbacks, Hardik Pandya stayed calm and focused. He went on to play a critical role in India’s T20 World Cup triumph and won over the fans again.
In an exclusive chat with The Indian Express, Mumbai Indians wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan opened up about the painful time Hardik experienced during this year’s IPL.
“I got very emotional when he stepped out of the dressing room with the trophy and the entire Wankhede Stadium erupted. It was redemption for him,” Kishan said.
“It is difficult to explain in words the past six months he has had, as there were all kinds of things said and written about him. But he never lost his cool. I was with him during most of that time – be it training with him in Vadodara or during the IPL – and I never heard him cribbing ki yaar, aisa kyun ho raha hai mere saath (Mate, why is it happening with me). He was calm about it, took it in a very sporting manner, and just focused on the game,” he added.
Kishan also lauded Hardik Pandya for remaining clam despite being at the receiving end of constant trolling, hooting and abuse during the IPL.
“He was at the receiving end wherever he went. At the toss, while boarding the team bus, at the airport. But he didn’t take it personally. Generally, people break down when treated so harshly, but Hardik didn’t. I consider him a great athlete because despite the entire stadium booing him, he went on with the job with a straight face.
“Bade players ki nishani yahi hoti hai, wo shakal pe nahi dikhate (Big players don’t show emotions when things are not going their way. They don’t want anyone to feel sorry for them). I am so proud of him for the way he dealt with all the negativity and turned it into claps,” Kishan stated.
“I remember Hardik bhai saying once during the IPL, ‘jo haath mey nahi hai uske baare mey kya sochna, log bol rahe hai kyu bol rahe, wo sab control nahi kar sakte (Those things which are not in our hands, we can’t control. If I keep on thinking about what people are saying, I will lose it). The same bunch that has criticised me will celebrate me in the future and I just have to take it in a very sporting manner,’” he further remarked.
Ishan Kishan further revealed during their training together prior to the IPL 2024, Hardik was only focused on doing well for India at the T20 World Cup.
“He was heartbroken after he got injured during the ODI World Cup. He was really focused on the T20 World Cup. Although he never said it, the intensity with which he used to train and practise had ‘tu dekh mai karta hun’ (you see what I will do) written all over it. I’ve trained with him. He has never compromised with his work ethic and it showed during the World Cup.”
At the time, Kishan felt Hardik was saving his best for the T20 World Cup. “I had a gut feeling that he was saving it all for the World Cup. I will never forget his words: ‘Ek baar performance aa jaaye fir jo aaj gaali de rahe wahi taaliyaan bajayenge (Once I will start performing, those who are abusing me will be clapping for me). This is what he told me when I was also going through a really tough time. He said ‘let people talk, we will do our best and give 100 percent to the game we love.”
In the end, Ishan Kishan called Hardik Pandya a ‘misunderstood’ person, who didn’t deserve such a tough time from fans.
“I don’t know why he is so misunderstood. Hardik is one of the sweetest guys I know. He is a really chilled-out person, a fun-loving guy. He is very expressive with his feelings,” he concluded.
(The Indian Express Inputs)