New Delhi: Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who played a key role in India’s triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024, opened up on the challenging six months leading up to the tournament. Hardik said being booed and trolled didn’t affect him much and he wanted to respond to his critics by performing on the field during a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The victorious Indian team was hosted by PM Modi at his residence in New Delhi following their return from Barbados after winning the T20 World Cup 2024. PM Modi held a candid interactive session with the Indian players and support staff where he spoke to a number of them about the tournament. When asked about the criticism he endured in the last few months, Hardik revealed how he never not his temper and always tried to remain calm and composed.
The star India all-rounder was booed on the field and brutally trolled online during IPL 2024. It all started after he made his comeback to Mumbai Indians from Gujarat Titans and went on to replace Rohit Sharma as the new captain of the five-time champions. The move from MI didn’t go down well with fans, who booed Hardik constantly throughout the season.
Hardik couldn’t inspire Mumbai Indians to the playoffs but showcased his best for India in the T20 World Cup. The all-rounder scored 144 runs at a strike rate of over 150 and picked up 11 wickets in the tournament, including a three-wicket haul in the final against South Africa. Opening up on the adversities he faced in the run-up to the tournament, Hardik told PM Modi how he kept his composure.
“The last 6 months have been very entertaining for me, there have been a lot of ups and downs and the public booed me. 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,” Hardik said during an interaction with PM Modi at his residence.
#WATCH | During his interaction with PM Modi, Cricketer Hardik Pandya said, “…Last 6 months have been very entertaining for me, there have been a lot of ups and downs and the public booed me. A lot of things happened and I always felt that if I give any answer, it would be… pic.twitter.com/bzti1hNUKu
— ANI (@ANI) July 5, 2024
Hardik bowled a game-changing spell against the Proteas in the final as he dismissed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen in the 17th over to turn the game in India’s favour. Klaasen could have single-handedly propelled South Africa to victory having smashed 24 runs in the 15th over, but Hardik had other plans as he sent the Proteas batter packing.
Hardik Pandya 1st Indian to become no.1 all-rounder in T20Is
Hardik became the first Indian to become the no.1 all-rounder in T20Is after his heroics in the T20 World Cup 2024 for India. Hardik rose two spots in the latest T20I rankings to go on level terms with Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasarnaga in ratings and clinch the top spot. No Indian players has managed to grab the top spot in ICC T20I rankings for all-rounders in the past.
Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya opened on facing boos and getting trolled by fans during a candid conversation with PM Narendra Modi after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
