As soon as Hardik Pandya came out of the Mumbai Airport, clutching the World Cup trophy, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd. Chants of 'Hardik! Hardik!' reverberated through the air, and Pandya absorbed every moment, knowing he had scripted one of cricket's most inspiring redemption stories. Once considered a villain during his captaincy stint with the Mumbai Indians earlier this year, Pandya returned to the city as a World Cup hero.
The man, Hardik Pandya, once blamed for Mumbai Indians’ poor performance in IPL 2024 came back as one of India's key contributors to their title win, earning his share of praise and appreciation.
Not long ago, these same Mumbaikars had booed and trolled Pandya, criticising his performance as MI skipper and his assumption of leadership from Rohit Sharma.
Pandya faced boos and online trolling during IPL 2024, particularly at MI's home ground, Wankhede Stadium. His struggles with form, both with bat and ball, drew sharp criticism from fans and former cricketers.
At the outset of the T20 World Cup 2024, the seam-bowling all-rounder found himself under intense scrutiny. His form in the preceding IPL season had been lacklustre, sparking doubts about his ability to perform on the grand stage. Critics questioned his selection, doubting whether he could deliver under pressure when it mattered most.
However, as the tournament began, Pandya silenced his detractors with performances that redefined his legacy. Key wickets, valuable runs, stellar fielding – Pandya was omnipresent in those crucial moments.
With the bat, he wielded his willow like a maestro, amassing 144 runs at a strike-rate of 151.57. Pandya's dual ability to swing the ball and vary his pace troubled numerous batters, resulting in 11 wickets, including three crucial ones in the final.
Throughout this redemption journey, the Baroda-based cricketer absorbed the pressure silently, channeling it into what many consider the greatest clutch performance in T20 World Cup history.
"Last six months have been very entertaining for me, there have been a lot of ups and downs, and the public booed me,” Pandya told PM Narendra Modi during the latter's meeting with the entire squad in Delhi. “A lot of things happened, and I always felt that if I give any answer, it would be through sports... So, I believed that I would stay strong, will work hard."
Those who doubted him—fans, media personnel, former Indian cricketers—must now find satisfaction in being proven wrong.
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