Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya shared how he came out of a difficult phase in his career. The veteran all-rounder had a poor IPL 2024 campaign as the Mumbai Indians (MI) captain as well. Notably, he replaced long-time captain Rohit Sharma at the franchise’s helm, resulting in him facing criticism from MI fans in stadiums nationwide.
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In an interview with Star Sports ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya said, “Hardik Pandya right now at 30 is a much, much easier job compared to what Hardik Pandya was when I was 16. So I go back to the 16-year-old and I ask him how did you do it, why did you do it? At that point of time, I didn’t have facilities or opportunities. Hard work gave me opportunities and opened doors for me. So I am in that zone right now [where] I am going and asking the 16-year-old – because he is my actual motivator, because if that guy hadn’t set the platform I probably wouldn’t have been here,” said Hardik.
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However, Hardik Pandya struggled with bat and ball in the 2024 IPL season, averaging 18 with no fifties and an economy of 10.75 in 14 games as well. Hardik Pandya also admitted to going through a rough phase in his career but backed himself to come out of it as well. Despite his below-par IPL 2024, he is a vital cog in the Indian squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup as well. Notably, he scored a 23-ball 40 in India’s warm-up game against Bangladesh.
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“Eventually, I believe, you have to stay in the battle. Sometimes life puts you in situations where things are tough, but I believe that if you leave the game or the field, the battle that is, you won’t get what you want from your sport, or the results you are looking for. At the same time these things happen; there are good times and bad times, these are phases that come and go. That is fine. I have gone through these phases many times and I will come out of it as well,” concluded Hardik Pandya.