NEWS
Follow UsThe last few months before the 2024 T20 World Cup hadn’t been great for Hardik Pandya. The ace all-rounder shifted his base from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians and had a terrible Indian Premier League 2024. Many fans booed, trolled, and even abused him. People talked about not taking him to the USA and the West Indies for the 20-over showpiece event.
But adversities like this bring out the best in Hardik. Throughout this adversity, the 30-year-old basked in silence. He soaked it all in and, in return, produced the best clutch performance ever in T20 World Cup history. Pandya smashed 144 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 and also claimed 11 wickets at an economy of 7.64.
“Yes, a lot of people said a lot of things without knowing who Hardik Pandya is. Everyone had an opinion and I don’t mind that, but I have always maintained that you never reply with words. You can only answer with your actions. Yes, there were difficulties but I knew that I won’t be down always” Pandya told the Times of India a couple of days after India defeated South Africa to win the 2024 T20WC.
“I believe it is important to be graceful in victory and in defeat, and I tried to maintain that. Only thing I want to tell the fans is that they, too, should learn to be graceful, at times they should also find better ways to express themselves. Anyway, I am sure they will also be happy today.”
Talking about his own performance in the tournament, Pandya said: “Now that we have won, I feel that even if I hadn’t scored, it wouldn’t have mattered. Individual performances don’t matter when the team doesn’t win. But whenever I got the chance, I was happy that I could contribute something to the team’s cause. I have always played my cricket that way. If it is one over, I try to do it to the best of my ability.”
India’s grand finale against South Africa went right down to the wire. Chasing a target of 177, the Proteas got the equation down to 30 off 30, with Heinrich Klaasen (27-ball 52) and David Miller (17-ball 21) looking in great touch. Jasprit Bumrah then bowled a four-run over before Pandya got rid of dangerous Klaasen on the first delivery of the 17th over.
South Africa could score only 10 runs in the next three overs and the equation got down to 16 off the last six, with Pandya being given the duty to close the game. The all-rounder got rid of Miller on the first delivery and managed to defend those runs, giving India a seven-run victory, and their first ICC title since 2013.
When asked about that final over, Pandya said: “I think I was enjoying it. Not too many people get such chances which can change their lives. Things might have gone the other way, but it didn’t bother me. I knew there was no point taking pressure, I just tried to bank on my skillset. I think it was written in the stars. I have always tried to keep smiling through the difficulties and I can assure you this is going to be a very long smile.”
Once India won the title, Virat Kohli announced his retirement from T20I cricket, and Rohit Sharma did the same. Pandya is expected to be the next T20I captain for India but the all-rounder isn’t looking too far ahead. “2026 is far off. For now, I am very happy for Rohit and Virat, two giants of Indian cricket who deserve every bit of success.
“We will obviously miss them in the format but at the same time, this is probably the best farewell that we could have given them. This victory is a tribute to the brotherhood that has been created in the team.”
If you’ve not downloaded the Cricket.com app yet, you’re missing out — big time. Play Fantasy on Cricket.com NOW! Download the App here.
