India all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently shared a light-hearted yet memorable story from his early days with the Mumbai Indians, recalling how a prank by Ricky Ponting left him momentarily dreaming big during the IPL 2015 season. Speaking at the BCCI Awards in New Delhi, Pandya revealed how Ponting, then part of the MI setup, jokingly told him that the entire prize money from his Player of the Match awards would go directly into his pocket. Back then, a young Pandya had every reason to believe it.

“I got excited after winning man-of-the-match awards. He actually told me that this money goes to you. I calculated what I was going to do with this money, and later I got to know this gets divided between the group,” Hardik Pandya recalled.

Signed at his base price of ₹10 lakh, Pandya wasted no time making an impression in his debut season. His impactful performances, particularly against Chennai Super Kings and Kolkata Knight Riders, highlighted his finishing abilities and marked the arrival of a future star.

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Over the years, Pandya has evolved into one of India’s premier all-rounders. After a successful stint with the Gujarat Titans—where he led the team to a title in their debut season—he returned to the Mumbai Indians as captain, taking on greater responsibility both on and off the field.

His growth has also translated onto the international stage. Hardik Pandya played a crucial role in India’s recent T20 World Cup triumph, delivering a key spell in the semi-final against England.

Looking ahead, the 32-year-old remains as ambitious as ever. “I want to win at least ten trophies, ICC and IPL combined, but for me ICC trophies are the most important,” he said.

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With IPL 2026 around the corner, Pandya will once again lead the Mumbai Indians, beginning their campaign against the Kolkata Knight Riders on March 29.