A late addition to the Indian team during the away series against New Zealand in 2019, the flamboyant all-rounder, Hardik Pandya had reached their mid-series and played 6 out of 8 matches. He was originally scheduled to land in New Zealand with other members of Team India from Australia but he had come back to India after getting suspended by the BCCI.

While KL Rahul was added to India A squad for the home series against England Lions, Hardik Pandya flew to NZ to make his comeback to international cricket. The all-rounder faced some issues upon reaching there as there was no hotel room available for him.

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Recalling MS Dhoni’s heartfelt gesture, Hardik Pandya has revealed that the former India skipper offered his bed to him as Dhoni often sleeps on the floor. During a chat with ESPNCricinfo, Hardik recalled, “MS was someone who understood me from the start: how I function, what kind of a person I am, what are the things I don’t like, everything.”

He further elaborated, “When I was picked for the New Zealand series [in January 2019, after the suspension was revoked], initially there were no hotel rooms [for Pandya in New Zealand]. But then I get a call, saying, “You just come. MS has told us, ‘I don’t sleep on the bed [in any case]. He will sleep on my bed and I will sleep on the floor.”

Hardik Pandya made his comeback in the playing XI in the 3rd ODI and made an immediate impact by taking a couple of wickets for 45 runs in 10 overs. He didn’t get a chance to bat.

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Following the NZ series, Pandya missed the final series before World Cup due to back issues. He made his comeback for the ICC event. Pandya shares a good rapport with Dhoni and had landed in Ranchi last year to surprise him on his 39th birthday. The all-rounder had kickstarted his international career under Dhoni.