Follow UsIndia’s Hardik Pandya’s story has been one of great redemption ever since the end of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. It could complete a circle come IPL 2025.
From being booed at his home ground- Wankhede Stadium-for taking over as Mumbai Indians captain from Rohit Sharma to being celebrated as India’s hero for winning the T20 World Cup 2024 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the only thing left now is him winning the next IPL and completing the circle.
Describing his journey filled with battles, Pandya, while speaking to Jio Hotstar, said, “For me, it has always been about never leaving the battlefield. There have been phases in my career where my focus wasn’t necessarily on winning but on surviving and holding my ground.”
Reflecting on the previous season, when he was being booed by the fans, Pandya added, “I realized that no matter what was happening around me, cricket would always be my greatest ally—it was my way forward.”
“I kept pushing through, and when all the hard work finally paid off, it was beyond anything I could have scripted. The six-month phase where we won the World Cup, and then the kind of love and support I received upon returning—it was a complete 360-degree turnaround for me.”
However, it was the span in which life flipped for Pandya that made him more grateful.
“Throughout that time, I knew that if I remained persistent, honest with my work, and gave my absolute best, I would come out stronger. I didn’t know exactly when that would happen, but as they say, destiny had its plan, and in my case, everything changed within two and a half months,” he said.