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Given recent IPL experiences, Hardik Pandya may have had flashbacks when asked about Mumbai vibes in New York.
Not long ago, Hardik Pandya faced a storm as Mumbai Indians captain, enduring boos even at Wankhede Stadium. Replacing Rohit Sharma unsettled fans, amplifying backlash amidst poor results, leading to MI’s playoff exit.
With the IPL behind him, the T20 World Cup presents Hardik Pandya with the perfect chance for redemption. So far, he’s excelled, scoring 40 against Bangladesh and taking 3/27 against Ireland. His positive mindset indicates he’s on the right track to redemption.
After the match, Hardik Pandya faced a question that might have triggered memories of Wankhede jeers. Asked about the Mumbai-like atmosphere in New York, Pandya remained composed and handled it with professionalism.
“It’s really fun. It’s always fantastic to see the crowd always coming and supporting us. We Indians are everywhere. We rule the world so it’s good to have so much support. So thanks to them,” Hardik said.
Hardik Pandya’s performance in the Indian jersey contrasts with his stint in the Mumbai Indians’ blue. His current demeanor suggests a significant improvement from just two weeks ago. With the bat, he unleashed powerful strokes, while with the ball, he appeared to pick up right where he left off in the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Hardik Pandya showcased his bowling prowess by dismissing Lorcan Tucker with a well-directed fuller delivery, inducing movement after pitching. He followed it up with the dismissal of Curtis Campher, caught behind. Pandya further bolstered his wicket tally by removing Mark Adair, now standing as India’s joint third-highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cups alongside Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan, with 16 wickets each. Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja lead the chart ahead of him.
“Always special to play for the country, always good to play for pride. I have been able to contribute in the World Cups; God has been kind. That was an outstanding effort by Axar; those are the catches when you let your hand-eye coordination in. I really liked the first wicket, don’t hit the stumps often as I usually bowl short of a length. I needed to be fuller than back of a length today. On this kind of surface, you need to be disciplined and hit the right areas,” said Hardik.
India’s success against arch-rivals Pakistan hinges significantly on Hardik Pandya’s form in Sunday’s highly anticipated match. In the previous two World Cup clashes against Pakistan, Pandya played crucial roles, scoring 40 runs off 37 balls in Melbourne and claiming 2 wickets for 34 runs in Ahmedabad.
