Sunrisers Hyderabad’s rising star Aniket Verma has been greatly inspired by Hardik Pandya’s famous “maggi story,” which has played a significant role in shaping his journey. The 23-year-old’s uncle, Amit, revealed in an interview that Aniket considers Hardik his hero, seeing in him a figure who rose from humble beginnings to become a crucial part of the Indian white-ball setup.
Much like Aniket, Hardik’s early years were marked by struggle, with the Pandya brothers living on maggi noodles while they played local tournaments in Baroda. Amit shared how he first told Aniket the story when he was just 14 years old. They were on their way to Aniket’s academy, and Amit, having read about Hardik’s journey in the newspaper, saw the same hunger and determination in his nephew that Hardik once had.
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“Aniket must have been 14 then. I told him the story while we were heading to his academy,” Amit said. “That day, I saw the passion, the hunger in him. He wanted to make it big. When we reached the stadium, he touched my feet and said, ‘I complain about trivial things.’ I laughed, but he was serious.”
Aniket Verma’s Idol is HARDIK PANDYA
Aniket Verma ‘s Uncle said” Aniket was inspired by the Pandya Brothers, surviving with Maggi due to financial issues”. pic.twitter.com/FaJfCEAGeJ
— Yash (@Yash22CS) April 1, 2025
Amit also recalled a touching moment when Aniket was playing with worn-out shoes. Despite his limited resources, Amit, who worked at an automobile showroom earning ₹3,000 a month, bought his nephew a pair of new sports shoes worth ₹1,200.
“I had never worn something that expensive in my life, but for him, I would have done anything,” Amit said. “He slept with those shoes that night.”
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Although Sunrisers Hyderabad’s start to IPL 2025 has been shaky, Aniket has been impressive. Having caught attention in intra-squad matches, he was included in the playing XI from the very first game and has since showcased his aggressive batting style. His standout performance came against Delhi Capitals, where he scored a blistering 74 off 41 balls.
