Former cricketer Mohammad Kaif remarked that if a film was written on Hardik Pandya, it should focus on his path from harsh criticism to a powerful comeback. Hardik suffered substantial controversy after quitting the Gujarat Titans to join the Mumbai Indians (MI) last season, replacing five-time IPL champion Rohit Sharma as captain.
Hardik was booed during a match between the Mumbai Indians and the Titans at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium.
Mohammad Kaif revealed that Hardik was subjected to mental hardship and abuse, something no cricketer should have to go through. However, he complimented Hardik for not giving in to the pressure and instead fighting back like a lion to make a successful return.
"He kept that pain to himself and went forward, and that has been Hardik Pandya's comeback story. It was a bad journey. Fans booed him, and people wrote him off. As a player mein apko bata sakta hu, beizatti...apman ke saath aage barna, use sehna, sabse gehra zakham hota hai (As a player, moving forward with insults hurts deeply). A player never forgets that,” Kaif said in the video.
Hardik has since turned his career around, winning consecutive ICC titles. Last year, he was instrumental in helping India win the Men's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the United States. Hardik also helped India win the Champions Trophy earlier this month.
“You can drop him, but being insulted wasn't a good sign. It turns out to be mental torture for the player. Mental torture—that is what happened to Hardik. Despite all, he played in the T20 World Cup, where he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen in the final.
Then, in the Champions Trophy, he scored sixes against Zampa. He performed with the bat and ball, fighting fiercely like a lion. If there is ever a biopic on him, then the last seven months should be an example for players of how to fight against all odds, stay calm, trust your strengths, and make a comeback," Kaif added.
Hardik will miss Mumbai Indians' first match of the season against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) due to an over-rate offence from the previous year. In his absence, Suryakumar Yadav will captain the team.
