Early Life and Struggles
Hardik Pandya is one of the most exciting and charismatic cricketers in the world. The 30-year-old all-rounder, who plays for India and Mumbai Indians, has the ability to change the course of a match with his explosive batting, fast bowling, and electric fielding. He is also a natural leader, who has captained Gujarat Titans to an IPL title and a runner-up finish in the last two seasons.
Hardik’s journey from a small town in Gujarat to the international stage is a remarkable one. He was born on October 11, 1993, in Choryasi, Gujarat, to a car finance businessman, Himanshu Pandya, and his wife, Nalini. His elder brother, Krunal, is also a professional cricketer. Hardik’s father moved the family to Vadodara when he was five years old, to provide better cricket training facilities for his sons. Hardik and Krunal joined Kiran More’s cricket academy and started playing for Baroda in domestic cricket.
Rise to Fame and Glory
Hardik was a leg spinner until the age of 18, when he switched to fast bowling at the advice of the Baroda coach, Sanath Kumar. He made his first-class debut in 2013 and his T20 debut in 2014. He caught the eye of Mumbai Indians in the 2015 IPL, when he scored an unbeaten 61 off 31 balls against Kolkata Knight Riders. He was soon picked for India’s limited-overs tour to Australia in 2016, where he made his international debut in a T20I match. He also played a crucial role in India’s Asia Cup triumph in Bangladesh, where he defended two runs off the last three balls against the hosts.
Hardik’s career took off after he scored his maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in 2017, becoming the fastest Indian to score a century at No. 8. He was also part of the Indian team that reached the final of the 2017 Champions Trophy and the 2023 Cricket World Cup. He has represented India in 11 Tests, 86 ODIs, and 92 T20Is, scoring 532, 1769, and 1348 runs respectively, and taking 17, 55, and 42 wickets respectively.
Challenges and Controversies
Hardik’s form, however, has been inconsistent in recent times, due to various factors. He suffered a serious back injury in 2018, which required surgery and a long recovery period. He also faced controversy in 2019, when he made sexist and racist remarks on a talk show, for which he was suspended by the BCCI. He has also struggled to bowl regularly, due to his back issues and workload management. He has not bowled in Tests since 2018 and has bowled sparingly in ODIs and T20Is.
Current Form and Future Prospects
Hardik’s future, however, looks bright, as he has shown signs of returning to his best in the 2023 IPL. He scored 346 runs and took nine wickets in 16 matches, leading Gujarat Titans to their second consecutive final. He also made a sensational return to Mumbai Indians, his first franchise, in a landmark trade ahead of the 2024 IPL. He will join forces with Rohit Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Suryakumar Yadav, Ishan Kishan, and others, in a bid to win his fifth IPL title.
Hardik is also expected to play a key role in India’s upcoming assignments, such as the T20 World Cup in Australia, the ODI World Cup in India, and the bilateral series against England, South Africa, and New Zealand. He is widely regarded as one of the best all-rounders in world cricket and a potential future captain of India. He has the talent, the temperament, and the charisma to change Indian cricket for the better.
