Hardik Pandya gets the redemption he deserved

In October 2022, ahead of the T20 World Cup in Australia, Hardik Pandya was in the limelight for spending 18 months on rehab from recurring injuries that kept him away from bowling regularly for India.

“I know I will have good days and bad days but the positivity comes from the hard work that I put in, which then gives me the self-belief and confidence to give it everything,” he had said.

Then, life hit back in the most brutal ways.

The 2022 T20 World Cup didn’t go according to plan for India with a thumping one-sided loss to England in the semi-final.

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For all of India, for all the work we’ve put over years and years. There are no words, there are only emotions! Love this team, love playing for my country! No greater joy than winning for my country! Champions of the world 🇮🇳🇮🇳🇮🇳🏆🏆 Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/TZTbW6i4gK

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) June 29, 2024

There was further disappointment a year later. He was ruled out of the ODI World Cup at home, picking up an injury against Bangladesh and despite repeated attempts, he would have to sit out. Watching from afar, India finished second-best to Australia in the final for further heartbreak.

This year, he was appointed the captain of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL), making a switch from the Gujarat Titans. As he replaced Rohit Sharma as skipper, the fans were not pleased. And they made their displeasure known.

Just a boy from Baroda living his dream and grateful for everything that’s come his way 🇮🇳🙏 Cannot ask for anything more. Playing for my country will always be the greatest honour ❤️ pic.twitter.com/jeHHjB7rtU

— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) June 29, 2024

As Pandya travelled from away venues to even Wankhede Stadium, the cacophony of jeers carried with him. It would begin when he would step onto the field, walk up for the toss, or go about his business with the bat or ball.

The situation was so dire and unhealthy that Rohit needed to gesture to the fans to quieten the booing when playing against Rajasthan Royals.

Many former players suggested the only way to get fans back on his side was with results. Alas, that wasn’t going their way either. Under Pandya, MI started the season with three defeats in a row and then piled on four straight losses before being beaten two consecutive times to close the season out. A bottom-place finish with four wins and 10 defeats. As far as early impressions go, Pandya didn’t get off to a good start with the Mumbai Indians faithful.

Yet, it wasn’t Pandya’s fault alone for the team’s disastrous season. Additionally, the all-rounder never really got the support he needed from the fans to try to turn things around.

The T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies offered him the opportunity to wipe the slate clean. And he did.

HARDIK PANDYA YOU DESERVE THIS REDEMPTION, CRY YOUR HEARTS OUT!!! SO PROUD 🥺💙 pic.twitter.com/E0VlIItivY

— sohom (@AwaaraHoon) June 29, 2024

He finished with 11 wickets and 144 runs, including one fifty, at an average of 48. He took three wickets against Ireland in the opener and capped off the tournament with three against South Africa in the final. With the bat, he scored an unbeaten 50 off 27 balls against Bangladesh, 32 from 24 against Afghanistan, unbeaten 27 from 17 against Australia and 23 from 13 against England. All four of these crucial performances came in the business end (Super Eight and semi-final).

If there was one time to make himself count, this was it. The final. India chased their first T20 World Cup in 17 years and an 11-year desire to end the ICC title drought. After the heartbreak that India had had in the last 12 months and for the unpleasant couple of months Pandya had had, this was make-or-break.

It was advantage South Africa as he readied to bowl the second over. Needing 177 to win, South Africa were within 26 runs off 24 balls of winning their maiden World Cup.

Just an over ago, Heinrich Klaasen had smacked Axar Patel to all corners of the park and picked up 24 runs in an over. In the next, Jasprit Bumrah applied the brakes by going for just four runs.

Pandya had to follow it up by either taking wicket(s) or not going for enough runs or both. He had done it already in the tournament against Pakistan. Could he do it again?

First ball, slower one, Klaasen chased after it and gave away an outside edge to wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant. End of Klaasen’s stay at 52 from 27 balls. Pandya would go on to concede just four in the over. Both boxes ticked.

We move to the final over. The equation reads: South Africa need 16 runs from six balls. Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh give away just six runs between them in the next two overs. The onus was now on Pandya to get the job done.

After a terrible IPL campaign, it was bold from Rohit Sharma to give Hardik the ball. But, remember, the slate was wiped clean. And it showed on the very first ball. David Miller, the only set batter who could make serious damage, smacked a low full toss down the ground and Suryakumar Yadav plucked a banger to cause delirium on the field, the dugout, and among the billions in India.

Pandya would go for an unlucky outside-edged four and bowl a wide as the nerves remained. But in the end, he held firm to steer India to victory.

The 30-year-old collapsed to his knees in celebration and shed tears amid raw emotions. Hardik Pandya had gone from being booed across stadiums in India to being the country’s hero in the space of a couple of months.

“A lot was said by people who don’t know even know me one percent as a person. People have spoken, no issues but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond,” he said in the aftermath.

“Even difficult times, they don’t last forever. It is important to be graceful, whether you win or lose.

“It is time for fans and everyone else to learn that (to be graceful). We need to find better ways to conduct yourself. I am sure the same people will be happy,” he added.

Did nerves play a role at any point?

“To be honest, I was enjoying. Very few get these life changing opportunities. It could have gone the other way as well but I see it glass half full and not glass half empty. This was a moment written in the stars,” he said.