Hardik Pandya’s Journey at T20 World Cup: Mumbai Indians Fans Celebrate

Hardik Pandya, the Indian vice-captain, recently shared a post on Instagram with the ICC T20 World Cup trophy. He chose Kanye West’s song “Can’t Tell Me Nothing” as the background music. This choice reflects how Hardik has silenced his critics, much like the message in Kanye’s song.

Sanjay Manjrekar, who once asked a packed Wankhede Stadium to calm down when Hardik first captained Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2024, wasn’t surprised to see Hardik shine on the big stage. From being booed in the IPL 2024 to being cheered at the T20 World Cup, Hardik has been on a path of redemption over the past six months.

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Hardik was initially bought by Mumbai Indians in the IPL 2015 for just INR 10 lakh. After winning four titles with MI, he was released before the 2022 mega auction. He then became the captain of Gujarat Titans (GT) and led them to a title win in their debut season. Hardik guided GT to back-to-back IPL finals in 2022 and 2023 before receiving an offer he couldn’t refuse.

Mumbai Indians brought Hardik back in an all-cash deal from GT before the IPL 2024. This was the biggest player trade in IPL history, and Hardik reportedly earned up to 50% of the transfer fee. MI quickly announced Hardik as the successor to Rohit Sharma. Hardik, who was Rohit’s deputy in the Indian team, captained MI in the IPL 2024.

Despite high expectations, MI was the first team to exit the playoff race in IPL 2024 under Hardik’s leadership. MI fans were unhappy, and Hardik faced criticism throughout the season. However, he was still selected for the T20 World Cup.

After his IPL transfer, Hardik returned as the vice-captain of the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. He took two wickets in the match against Pakistan, helping India secure a thrilling win. Hardik also played a crucial role in India’s victory over Bangladesh, earning the Player of the Match award. He continued to perform well, contributing to India’s wins against England and South Africa.

Hardik’s performances at the T20 World Cup silenced his critics. He defended 16 runs in the final over against South Africa, sealing India’s famous win. After the match, a teary-eyed Hardik told Star Sports that he had gone through a lot in the past six months but didn’t let his critics see him suffer. With Rohit and Kohli retiring from T20 cricket, Hardik is expected to lead the Indian team in the shortest format.