T20 World Cup: How India all-rounder Hardik Pandya bounced back to form after forgettable IPL 2024

Hardik Pandya had a forgettable return to competitive cricket after returning from an ankle injury suffered in last year’s ICC World Cup at home. Pandya had endured months of online trolling after being named captain of the Mumbai Indians following his dramatic trade from Gujarat Titans ahead of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).

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The trolling wasn’t just limited to social media however, as the all-rounder was booed at venues, both at MI’s home ground of the Wankhede Stadium as well as at away venues such as Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium, GT’s home turf.

As if that wasn’t enough, his stint as MI leader was off to a forgettable start with the five-time IPL champions finishing at the bottom of the 10-team table for the second time in the last three seasons. His own form had taken a beating in the 17th IPL season as well, scoring 216 runs at an average of 18 and collecting 11 wickets at an average of 35.18 and an economy of 10.75 respectively.

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There were even those who had put a question mark over Pandya's place in India's squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup, with some believing Shivam Dube and Rinku Singh were better suited for the middle order than him.

Pandya not only was selected in the India squad, he was even named deputy to skipper Rohit. And ever since he donned the India blue from the MI blue-and-gold, his form also appears to have picked up.

How Hardik Pandya bounced back to form

The burden of managing one of the most successful franchises in T20 league cricket, along handling dressing room politics, especially at a time when the MI camp was reportedly split after his arrival, appeared to have taken a toll on him in the IPL.

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It was in the match against Bangladesh in last year’s World Cup when Pandya had injured his ankle that would put him out of action for months altogether. Incidentally, it was against the same team that the all-rounder would make his first appearance in an Indian jersey since last year’s mega tournament.

It was as if wearing India’s blue kit magically revived his form — first with bat, and then with ball.

In the warm-up clash against Bangladesh in New York, Pandya appeared to have regained his old touch as a finisher by smashing his way to an unbeaten 40 off 23 balls. Pandya collected two fours and four sixes and helping India post 182 on what has been the toughest wicket in the World Cup so far.

Pandya would then bounce back as a bowler in the subsequent Group A clashes, starting with a haul of 3/27 against Ireland that helped India bowl the Paul Stirling-led side out for a meagre 96 . That was followed by hauls of 2/24 ad 2/14 against Pakistan and USA respectively, with Pandya registering an outstanding economy of 3.50 in the latter while bowling out a maiden.

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As a result, Pandya is the top-ranked Indian in the wicket-takers’ list. He’s level on seven wickets with left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh, but is ranked higher due to his superior average and economy.

With the burden of captaincy taken off his shoulders for the time being, Pandya appears to be back at his best with bat as well as with ball. And that’s great news for an Indian team desperate to end its ICC title drought that has gone on for 11 years now.