Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya said that they had a massive relief after they won the 2024 T20 World Cup in the West Indies and USA as well. The Indian team had a great campaign, winning all eight games to clinch the T20 World Cup title as well. However, Hardik was under huge pressure heading into the tournament, following his poor IPL 2024 season.

Recalling his feelings after the T20 World Cup triumph in an interview with the ICC, Hardik said: “We won as a team. But for me to play that much important role, it is just surreal. And it’s a dream which actually came true. From my shoulder, a big weight was kind of off. I think it was just a relief. Really proud of the way I was able to stand, and maybe not show a lot of emotions or how I have been going through.”

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Hardik Pandya also revealed that he planned to double bluff a well-set Heinrich Klaasen with an outside off-stump delivery in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa as well. Notably, he single-handedly took South Africa to the verge of a win with a stunning 27-ball 52, leaving them with only 26 runs required off the final four overs as well.

“Just before the ball, I just told him (Rohit) that I’m gonna go wide to Klaasen and I just knew that he’s gonna expect a ball which is on the stumps. His leg was a little to the leg-side, so I knew that he’s gonna try to hit me there and that’s when I, just before my run-up, just looked at him and said I’m gonna go slow because I didn’t set a field for a slower ball,” said Hardik Pandya. “I had to outfox him or I had to be a little one up in the game so he’s not aware of what ball is coming, because the way he was hitting it was just tremendous. That just opened the door for us.”