Veteran India all-rounder Hardik Pandya smashed 144 runs which came at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 151.57 in six innings in India’s title-winning run in the recently concluded T20 World Cup as well. He also picked up 11 wickets in 25 overs which came at an economy rate of 7.64 as well.

While speaking on Star Sports, Pathan praised Hardik for his sensational comeback. He said, “It’s been a special journey for Hardik Pandya. Coming back from all the criticism, I was actually the one who criticized him because he was not performing during the IPL time. He was making a lot of mistakes at that time. From there to coming back and winning the World Cup has been special. He showed the character, he performed to the T. With Rohit Sharma, with Jasprit Bumrah, the kind of performance he did to make a difference to the Indian cricket team has been so special.”

However, Hardik Pandya dismissed the destructive Heinrich Klaasenn in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. He also got rid of David Miller off the
first ball of the final over, with Suryakumar Yadav taking a stunning catch at the boundary line, to help India register a seven-run win. He compared Hardik Pandya’s journey with his own one before the 2007 T20 World Cup as well.

“When I see his journey leading up to this World Cup, it reminds me of my journey as well because I remember I was dropped from the team before the 2007 T20 World Cup. I was playing for India A in Zimbabwe and Kenya. I was actually going through a hardship where I really struggled with my body and hard work. I remember going to the MRF Pace Foundation and working in the quietness, and that journey is very similar to Hardik’s because he went through a lot as far as performance, criticism and booing are concerned. It’s been a special journey to remember for a lifetime,” Irfan Pathan concluded.