India all-rounder Hardik Pandya received a warm reception in his home city of Vadodara for the first time since becoming a T20 World Champion. A roadshow was organized on Monday to celebrate India’s T20 World Cup triumph, where Hardik and his brother, fellow cricketer Krunal Pandya, waved to the cheering crowds from an open-top bus. The banner “Hardik Pandya – Pride of Vadodara” adorned the bus as it navigated through streets filled with fans, many of whom held up posters in admiration.
VIDEO | Cricketer Hardik Pandya (@hardikpandya7) attends a roadshow in Vadodara to celebrate Team India's T20 World Cup victory. pic.twitter.com/Qp4rFg3Mxl
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) July 15, 2024
Hardik, who served as the vice-captain during the T20 World Cup, had a stellar campaign, scoring 144 runs at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 151.57 in six innings. His contributions with the ball were equally significant, claiming 11 wickets in eight games at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64. In the final, he played a crucial role by taking the wickets of Heinrich Klassen, David Miller, and Kagiso Rabada, helping India lift an ICC trophy after 11 years.
This victory marked a redemption for Pandya, who faced widespread criticism and online trolling during the IPL 2024 after replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of Mumbai Indians. Despite recovering from an ankle injury sustained during the 50-over World Cup, Pandya endured boos at every stadium. His team’s poor performance only intensified the backlash. However, Pandya’s World Cup success turned the tide, silencing his critics.
In an emotional interview with Star Sports post-victory, Pandya reflected on the past six months, expressing his determination to not let his detractors see him in pain. He shared, “I just wanted those six months to return. I controlled myself a lot. I wanted to cry. But to all those people who were happy seeing me in pain during those difficult few months, I didn’t want to give them more reasons to be happy. And I will never give them that moment. Look at the opportunity that I got today, probably by God’s grace, I bowled the last over. I could not even imagine that. I’m speechless.”
