Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya is reflecting on his younger self as he navigates a challenging phase in his career. The 30-year-old had a tough IPL 2024 season as the captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI), experiencing poor performance both as a leader and a player.
Hardik stepped into the captaincy role, replacing the long-time skipper Rohit Sharma, which led to him being booed by MI fans in stadiums across the country. Despite having a strong team on paper, the Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the table, winning only four out of 14 matches.
In an insightful interview with Star Sports ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Hardik shared his thoughts on how he is dealing with this challenging period.
“Hardik Pandya right now at 30 is a much, much easier job compared to what Hardik Pandya was when I was 16. So I go back to the 16-year-old and I ask him how did you do it, why did you do it? At that point of time, I didn’t have facilities or opportunities. Hard work gave me opportunities and opened doors for me. So I am in that zone right now [where] I am going and asking the 16-year-old – because he is my actual motivator, because if that guy hadn’t set the platform I probably wouldn’t have been here,” said Hardik.
During the 2024 IPL season, Hardik struggled significantly with both bat and ball, averaging 18 without scoring a single half-century and recording an economy rate of 10.75 across 14 games.
“I have gone through these phases many times and I will come out of it as well” – Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya acknowledged the difficult period he is currently facing in his career but expressed confidence in his ability to overcome it, just as he has done in the past.
Despite his subpar performance in IPL 2024, Hardik remains a key player for the Indian squad in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
“Eventually, I believe, you have to stay in the battle. Sometimes life puts you in situations where things are tough, but I believe that if you leave the game or the field, the battle that is, you won’t get what you want from your sport, or the results you are looking for. At the same time these things happen; there are good times and bad times, these are phases that come and go. That is fine. I have gone through these phases many times and I will come out of it as well,” said Hardik.
Hardik has already shown signs of a comeback with a promising start in the T20 World Cup, scoring a quick 23-ball 40 in India’s warm-up game against Bangladesh.
The Men in Blue are set to begin their tournament campaign against Ireland in New York on Wednesday, June 5. Will Hardik Pandya’s return to form help India secure a strong start? Fans are eagerly waiting to find out!
