From facing the wrath of jeering Mumbai Indians (MI) fans to script India’s historic T20 World Cup 2024 title win, Hardik Pandya completed his stunning turnaround at the grandest stage on Saturday (June 29).
Ahead of the IPL 2024 season, Hardik left the Gujarat Titans in a sensational all-cash deal to join MI. He was also handed the captaincy the franchise management, replacing Rohit Sharma.
This decision, however, wasn’t well received by a section of MI fans, who constantly heckled the all-rounder during the cash-rich league.
During the toss at a home match of MI at the Wankhede Stadium, Hardik Pandya was booed by the fans as soon as his name was called out before the toss.
The loud boo did not allow Hardik to hear commentator Sanjay Manjrekar, who was conducting the toss. A section of the crowd chanted "Rohit, Rohit" as well. This hostility prompted Manjrekar to ask the crowd to ‘behave.’
After India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph, Manjrekar recalled his attempt to pacify the Wankhede crowd, saying that their ill-mannered behavior towards a "big stage player" was unjustified.
“What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya. In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player,” Manjrekar told ESPNCricinfo.
Despite the setbacks in the IPL, Hardik Pandya stayed strong and made a stunning comeback to help his country win the T20 World Cup title.
In the nail-biting final against South Africa, Hardik returned with the bowing figures of 3/20 in his three overs, which included the prized scalps of rampaging Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller.
Defending 15 runs in the final over, the all-rounder leaked only 8 runs to ensure India end their long-standing ICC trophy drought.
“We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage,” Manjrekar said.
He highlighted the importance of Hardik Pandya in the Indian team, citing that even during India's disappointing loss to England in the T20 World Cup 2022 semi-final at the Adelaide Oval, the Baroda lad stood tall.
“Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that's what he is all about.
“You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly,” he concluded.
Overall, Hardik Pandya claimed 11 wickets from eight innings and scored 144 runs from six innings in India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign. His best batting performance came against Bangladesh when he slammed 50* off 27 balls in the second Super 8 fixture.
