In a recent video posted by Hardik Pandya on his social media handle, he was seen celebrating the ICC T20 World Cup win on its anniversary.
India won the 2024 T20 World Cup on this very day, the 29th of June, a historic day in India’s ICC campaigns as they won an ICC title after a span of 11 years since the last trophy in the ICC Champions Trophy 2013.
Pandya clearly portrayed his ambition as he mentioned his rise from celebrating on the roads back in 2011 to himself being a crucial player who played the major role in shaping India’s comeback in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. He seemed proud enough to have done it for his team.
“Always thrived and enjoyed being in this situation. It gets the best out of me. I’ve always manifested me bowling the last over or me hitting the last run of the World Cup winning play.”
“6-7-8 months, which I had prior to that really, really proud the way I was able to stand and maybe not show a lot of emotions or how I have been going through. It just came off the pressure of shoulder carrying such weights just came off and I was like finally I did it for the country,” said Hardik Pandya in a video posted on his social media.
Hardik Pandya’s contribution to India’s final win
Pandya has been India’s star all-rounder in the shortest format of the game. He has played under several crunch situations and contributed significantly with bat and ball at times.
In the T20 World Cup, nothing seemed to go in India’s favour as India needed to defend 26 runs off the last four overs. Pandya returned with the 17th over, where he struck with Heinrich Klaasen’s wicket with a ball outside the off-stump.
Pandya came back with the 20th over of the game, where he dismissed David Miller with a magnificent grab from Suryakumar Yadav, which will remain inscribed in the hearts of every Indian for years to come.
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A dream T20 World Cup final, yet Hardik was overlooked for India captaincy
Hardik finished the match for India, and he ended with the figures of 3/20. This was one of the most significant contributions that won the match for India.
Despite such a great performance, Pandya, who was always in line for being India’s next T20I Captain, was sidelined from the role after Rohit Sharma retired from the shortest format of the game.
However, citing his injury proneness, Hardik Pandya was not given leadership duties as Suryakumar Yadav was preferred to be a better option, and even Hardik Pandya considered the decision and went on to play under him in the Indian side.
This player was preferred over Hardik Pandya for the POTM award
Hardik Pandya contributed 5 runs off 2 balls and was the pick of the Indian bowlers with 3 wickets in the final. Despite his exceptional effort, he was not handed the POTM award.
Virat Kohli was the man of the match for his stellar innings of 76 in the final after a considerably bad World Cup performance. Kohli’s innings undoubtedly played a crucial role in giving Indian bowlers something to defend before the bowlers could finish the job for India.
