It Was About Surviving: Hardik Pandya Breaks Silence on Harsh Criticism from MI Fans

Remember the time during IPL 2024, when the newly appointed captain Hardik Pandya was heckled by Mumbai fans after he took over the leadership from Rohit Sharma. Just a couple of months later, the same crowd that booed him roared in celebration at the T20 World Cup.

Such was the all-rounder's struggle during the IPL that even broadcaster Sanjay Manjrekar had to urge the crowd to "behave" before a match. Now, Hardik Pandya himself has shared his perspective on the whole episode.

"It’s about not leaving the battlefield. For me, it was about surviving, even if I wasn't winning," he said.

"That year, I had to hold my ground for a long time and not leave the battlefield, which was the field itself. I realized how things were unfolding cricket would be my best friend and help me overcome it," Pandya explained during an episode of JioStar’s 'Superstars'.

Hardik’s performances weren't at their peak throughout the season, and MI as a whole was struggling to secure wins. But then Hardik Pandya revealed that it was his relentless determination to never give up that sparked a complete turnaround.

"Yeah, I kept pushing, constantly pushing. I believe all that hard work eventually paid off, I wouldn’t have been able to write my story the way it turned out without that effort. Those six months, marked by winning the World Cup and the overwhelming support we received, changed everything.

"I truly experienced a 360-degree turnaround. I always believed that if I remained persistent, stayed true to my work, and kept putting in the effort, I’d overcome the challenges. And even when I wasn’t sure, it felt like fate had its own script, turning the tide in just two and a half months," he added.

Hardik Pandya Explains Mumbai Indians Tactical Auction Moves

Hardik Pandya also shared insight into the franchise's auction plan. He explained that the five-time IPL champions wanted to draw in experienced players to their ranks.

"This year, the aim was to secure experience. I think you can see from the entire sheet that we sought a experienced bowling attack. Because Wankhede is where you face scrutiny, and it can be quite daunting playing in the IPL in Mumbai, at Wankhede," said Hardik.

"And the wickets are generally high-scoring. So we aimed to focus on players who possess significant experience concurrently, who have the swing, who deliver the bounce on that track, which we can maximize. And I believe that we have assembled a very potent team where, from top to bottom, we have met our objectives. It's just that now we all need to show up," he added.