Hardik Pandya is one of the unsung heroes of India’s T20 World Cup victory. He scored 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.58 and took 11 wickets in 8 games of the tournament.
He played a major role in helping the team win its second T20 World Cup and first in 17 years. India also won its first ICC title in 11 years. Hardik himself, who played almost 10 years of international cricket, was part of many of those defeats.
Mohammad Kaif praises Hardik Pandya
What a comeback for Hardik after being booed in the IPL! He contributed to the victory with his bat in the Super 8s and got crucial wickets of Klassen and Miller in the final. If he is given the blue jersey of India, everything he touches will turn to gold. The true champion of India. #T20WorldCup2024 pic.twitter.com/wbZcVDYLDy
— Mohammad Kaif (@MohammadKaif) July 2, 2024
Meanwhile, Mohammad Kaif, the former Indian cricketer, took a moment to praise Hardidk Pandya for his performances in the tournament. He said that from being booed in the IPL to being praised after the T20 World Cup win, Hardik has responded to his critics in style.
“What a great comeback for Hardik after being booed in the IPL. He contributed with his bat to the victory in the Super 8s and got crucial wickets of Klassen and Miller in the final. If you put him in blue, everything he touches turns to gold. A true champion of India. #T20WorldCup2024,” Kaif said about Hardik.
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The Indian all-rounder did not have a good season in the IPL at the helm of Mumbai Indians. His franchise finished last with just four wins and 10 losses in the tournament. He was booed at every stadium where Mumbai Indians played and just a couple of months ago he was hated by almost all Indian fans.
He has turned things around quickly. In the last over against South Africa, he set out to defend 16 points but got the wickets of David Miller and Kagiso Rabada, which ended South Africa’s hopes.
The Indian all-rounder scored 32, 50*, 27*, 23 and 5*, all of which proved to be match-winners. With the ball, he picked up three wickets in the final and three in the first match against Ireland. He picked up two each against Pakistan and USA, and one against Bangladesh.
The Indian all-rounder was full of emotions after India won the final against South Africa. All the Indian players were relieved after the match and Hardik told everything he had to endure in the last few months in his post-match comments.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja have announced their retirement from T20Is after winning the T20 World Cup. Hardik, with his recent performance, seems to be the most likely candidate to be named the new T20I captain. BCCI might also consider names like Jasprit Bumrah and Suryakumar Yadav.
Also Read: ‘They will be easily replaced’: Michael Vaughan’s blunt take on Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja’s retirement in T20Is
