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'Beizzati', Hardik Pandya Was Mentally Tortured: Mohammad Kaif
Follow UsHardik Pandya was booed at his home ground - Wankhede Stadium - in IPL 2024 after he took over Mumbai Indians captaincy from Rohit Sharma
Former India player Mohammad Kaif said Hardik Pandya was insulted and mentally tortured during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 after he took over Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy from Rohit Sharma. The ace Indian all-rounder was booed at his home ground - Wankhede Stadium - but has managed to turn things around since then.
MI had one of their poorest seasons last year in IPL history, finishing last on the points table. Pandya’s story has been one of great redemptions ever since the end of the IPL 2024. The 31-year-old played a major role in India winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy in the space of 10 months.
"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 zakhan hota hai [As a player, moving forward with insults hurts deeply],” said Kaif in a video posted on his social media.
“A player never forgets that. 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.”
Adding more, Kaif said, "Watch out for Hardik in IPL 2025. Mumbai will be back in the top 4; that's a guarantee. Fans will support him again, and Rohit Sharma will give him the backing. While going through his worst phase, he went on to win two trophies for India. It wasn't easy, but he fought back, so hats off."
MI will commence their IPL 2025 campaign against Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Chepauk on March 23 (Sunday). Pandya, however, will miss the game due to a slow over-rate ban he picked up last season.
