Since June 29, the entire India has still celebrating the T20 World Cup. Rohit Sharma and Co. ended the 11-year trophy drought and won the trophy. Throughout the tournament, Team India was unbeatable and lifted the trophy with an unbeaten streak. In the final match, the final over by Hardik Pandya will be remembered forever. His brilliance with the ball sealed the victory. Pandya shined among all the criticism. AB de Villiers criticized Mumbai Indians fans for their unfriendly behavior towards Hardik Pandya in IPL 2024.
Hardik Pandya Shined in the Darkness:
In the IPL 2022, Hardik Pandya went to Gujarat Titans and led the team for two years. In 2022, he won the IPL trophy. This was a huge achievement. But the scenario changed when Hardik Pandya came to Mumbai Indians and led the team in the recently concluded edition of the tournament. After coming to MI, he has faced immense criticism. He faced booing by the fans throughout the tournament. His personal performance was also not great and that was another reason to be criticised. When MI exited the tournament from the group stage the criticism became even more sharp.
But the entire scenario changed in the T20 World Cup. Hardik Pandya found his form in the tournament and that helped team to conquer on the global stage. But his heroics shined in the final match. After Team India secured the T20 World Cup victory, Hardik Pandya, overwhelmed with emotion, collapsed to the ground in tears. Despite facing harsh criticism from Mumbai Indians fans recently, Pandya emerged as India’s hero in the final against South Africa, claiming 3/20 and finishing the tournament with 11 wickets and 144 runs, cementing his status as a world champion.
De villiers Suport to Pandya:
AB de Villiers acknowledged Hardik Pandya’s remarkable performance in the T20 World Cup, praising him for proving his mettle on such a significant stage. Pandya was visibly moved during his interview with broadcasters. De Villiers made sure to convey his message to all who had doubted Pandya’s capabilities, recognizing his contribution and impact in the tournament.
He said, “What stands out for me are the big moments. A guy like Hardik Pandya who’s been through a roller-coaster himself with Mumbai Indians – moving from Gujarat to Mumbai – and all the criticism he coped with, getting the ball from the captain in the final of the T20 World Cup. That was his moment to go like, ‘You know what… all Indian fans out there, this is what I am about as a cricket player.”
Later he added, “He made everyone proud out there. Even though I did not want him to succeed like that, I look back and have a lot of respect for that. He is a big man for a big moment and that’s exactly the way he played. To all you Mumbai Indians fans out there who doubted him, I’m pretty sure he has secured a spot in your hearts for the future.”
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