The journey of Hardik Pandya in the IPLs was not easy at all. Hardik was appointed as the captain of the Mumbai Indians team which made Rohit Sharma’s captaincy end. Things got worse when the team lost 3 matches in a row. This did not go well with the fans as they started booing Hardik in the matches and online. Hardik’s family also faced a lot of troubles with the rumours of Hardik and Natasa’s (his wife) divorce.
Hardik’s response towards the hate:
The injuries turned true for him, he couldn’t perform what he usually performs. He was booed wherever he went either on the field or on social media. Hardik mentioned in an interview that “I couldn’t even figure out what happened to me. I just wanted those six months for me. I wanted to cry but I didn’t. This whole time I controlled myself so much for not bursting out. But now look at the fate. I got a chance to bowl the final over in the World Cup. The whole nation and the team showed their trust in me and I didn’t let them down. I just couldn’t have imagined I would come this far.” Even after retiring, Rahul Dravid won his first World Cup and this is what he follows. There is no feeling that is final until you retire.
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There were even discussions of Hardik not select him in the Indian team. But, the selectors knew his importance and skill and chose Hardik as the vice-captain of the Indian Cricket Team. Once Hardik took the responsibility, he never let it down. He took 7 wickets in group stage matches against the warm-up match with Bangladesh including 3 against Pakistan.
Aftermath of the World Cup:
However, things have changed for Pandya after the World Cup. Hardik took the most important wickets in the ICC T20 World Cup. In the finals, Hardik was given to bowl the last over. Suryakumar Yadav’s catch made the win of the match. Hardik took the responsibility and made everyone proud. He took wickets in every match and proved that he was the right choice in the team. Nonetheless, Jasprit Bumrah did it with him. Both became the best bowlers in the whole tournament.
