2023 World Cup and IPL 2024 for Mumbai Indians gets due mention as Hardik Pandya shares rags to riches story

Published - 09 Jul 2024, 12:01 PM | Updated - 24 Aug 2024, 04:32 AM

Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma
Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma (Image Credits: Twitter)

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has shared a video about his inspirational journey on his social media handle after guiding the Men in Blue to ICC T20 World Cup 2024 glory. Hardik Pandya highlighted overcoming challenges before making a strong comeback for the India National Cricket Team.

Hardik Pandya faced injuries and controversies leading up to the T20 World Cup. Pandya made a remarkable comeback by leading India to their second ICC World T20 title in the Caribbean. He successfully defended 16 runs in the final over against South Africa in the final match of the ICC tournament.

Comeback Greater Than Setback - Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya took to Instagram to share a motivational message about his comeback. The video highlighted his recovery from injury, challenges in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, and ultimate triumph in the T20 World Cup 2024.

"Make your comeback greater than your setback. Always," Pandya wrote while sharing the inspiring video.

Hardik Pandya faced severe criticism and booing from fans after taking over as captain of the Mumbai Indians from Rohit Sharma. The Mumbai-based team was the first to be eliminated from IPL 2024 season. Pandya also struggled to perform with both bat and ball in this year's Indian T20 tournament.

However, Pandya redeemed himself with impressive performances in the recent T20 World Cup. He scored 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57. The pacer took 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64, with his best figures being 3/20.

India ended their 11-year ICC trophy drought by defeating South Africa by seven runs in the final at Barbados on June 29. Hardik was seen in tears after the Indian team's winning celebrations in the World Cup.

Hardik Pandya To Lead Team India Against Sri Lanka

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has decided to rest captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah for the upcoming ODI series against Sri Lanka, according to a PTI report. Hardik Pandya is a strong contender to lead the team in their absence, with KL Rahul also being considered for the role.

Hardik Pandya served as Rohit Sharma's deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024. KL Rahul, on the other hand, captained the Indian cricket team during the last ODI series against South Africa in December 2023. The Men in Blue are scheduled to play a three-match ODI series against Sri Lanka, starting on August 2.

The BCCI will likely rest Jasprit Bumrah from the T20I leg of the Sri Lanka series. This rest period is crucial for these senior players as India faces a busy schedule ahead, including home Tests against Bangladesh and New Zealand, followed by the highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) in Australia.

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