India all-rounder Hardik Pandya often gets the flak for his flamboyant lifestyle off the field. But it is not something that he is facing after becoming a star cricketer.
Speaking to India Today, Pandya on Saturday (January 11) reflected on his teenage years when he was snubbed from the Baroda Under-17 team due to attitude problems.
"I still remember I had a situation in which I was dropped from the U-17 team because of the things which I had with my coach. It was very hilarious. I still remember someone telling my brother that I had an attitude problem. At the age of 16, I did not even know what attitude was. It was very funny that someone told me that I had attitude,” he quoted.
Hardik then recalled the torrid time when his father – the sole earner in the family – suffered a heart attack and had to give up the work.
"So I got dropped from the team and at the same time, my father got a heart attack. He was some who used to earn in our family. Me and Krunal used to get a maximum of Rs 35.000 a year which is what you got at that time, playing U-16 or U-19 if I am not wrong.
"Papa got heart attack. He obviously stopped going to the office. Krunal got dropped, I got dropped because of my behaviour. At that point in time, everything stopped. Even that Rs 35,000 that could have helped us for a couple of months, it stopped.
"We have seen good life, we were a decent family. But things just went haywire. Mentally, I was not able to take it and asked 'why us?'. Then I was talking to myself, you want a fantastic life so you have to work hard for it. Then I decided, I am going to put in all the efforts into my game," Hardik said.
The Baroda cricketer revealed how he fought against all odds to reclaim his place in the state side.
"I went to the ground, I was waiting for the team to get announced. I scored and the funniest part was I scored 800 runs that year. I was the highest run-scorer but because they didn't like me that time, they did not pick me. I went to the ground and ran 17 rounds of the ground. I was just crying throughout because of my situation, my papa's situation. For 2-3 years, it was a lot for me to take it.
"I just went for the next three years between 17 and 19, I completely gave it to cricket. I just stopped talking to people. I was having just cricket friends, no one from the outside circle. Neither a girl or a guy or anyone. I was just cut-off from the world because I felt it might just distract me from my goal.
"The following year, again, they did not pick me. But I still remember my U-19 assistant coach and the captain went to the selectors and asked them to give me one chance.
"They said 'give him once chance, if he does not do well in once chance, then let's decide'. I still remember two selectors coming to me and saying they would give me just one chance and if I fail, they won't be able to do anything," Hardik explained.
Having made his international debut in January 2016, Hardik Pandya has represented India in 11 Tests, 54 ODIs and 40 T20Is thus far.
The 26-year-old is out of competitive cricket since September 2019. He underwent a surgery to treat his lower back problem in October and is likely to return to action during the limited-overs series tour of New Zealand later this month.
(Inputs from India Today)
