By Karan Agrawal 
Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s career has been full of ups and downs which started with a lower back injury during the 2018 Asia Cup followed by a controversial statement made by him on an Indian talk show which saw him and KL Rahul getting banned from the team and the latest of them erupted when Hardik was named the captain of the Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024. The backlash that Pandya faced was more to do with the way he was made the captain of one of the most successful IPL teams with Rohit Sharma wo guided the team to five titles being replaced at a time when he was still the captain of India’s T20 side. Hardik’s return to the ‘MI family’ was not received well by the fans as he was booed in the majority of the games last season. Despite his personal and professional life both in turmoil, Hardik showed great resilience on the field which bore fruit in the T20 World Cup which succeeded the IPL with Hardik playing a crucial role in helping India win an ICC trophy after 11 years.
The Journey
Talking about his career after the 2024 T20 World Cup win Hardik Pandya said “For me, it has always been about never leaving the battlefield. There have been phases in my career where my focus wasn’t necessarily on winning but on surviving and holding my ground. I realized that no matter what was happening around me, cricket would always be my greatest ally it was my way forward. I kept pushing through, and when all the hard work finally paid off, it was beyond anything I could have scripted. “The six-month phase where we won the World Cup, and then the kind of love and support I received upon returning it was a complete 360-degree turnaround for me. Throughout that time, I knew that if I remained persistent, honest with my work, and gave my absolute best, I would come out stronger. I did not know exactly when that would happen, but as they say, destiny had its plan, and in my case, everything changed within two and a half months,” he added.
The Message
When asked about what message he would like to give to youngsters coming into the IPL Hardik said “The young players coming into the IPL are extremely talented. My message to them is simple believe in yourself. They are here because they are good enough, but the biggest challenge at this stage is self-doubt. Sometimes, players start questioning whether they belong at this level, and that doubt can take away from their skill set. Managing that mental aspect is crucial.”
The Mindset
Hardik also reflected on his mindset and said that it is important to seize every opportunity that comes your way which can be done by staying neutral. In the words of Hardik “Staying neutral will allow them to maximize opportunities and seize crucial moments. They will face tough tests, but sometimes, all they need is a little patience. In terms of skill set, they are far ahead of where we were at 21 or 22. Their talent and fearless approach are already there it’s just about reinforcing their belief in themselves.”