File photo of Hardik Pandya.© AFP

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have sought a longish break from the BCCI.© X (Twitter)

Team India has been invited to celebrate its T20 World Cup triumph in Maldives.© BCCI

After months of criticism and trolling, India vice-captain Hardik Pandya finally found his night of reckoning and glory as he helped India win the T20 World Cup last week in Barbados. Prior to the tournament, Hardik was brutally targetted by fans owing to his poor form in IPL 2024, and also over the fact that he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Under Hardik’s leadership, MI finished the season bottom of the points table.

Some fans were also not happy with Hardik’s inclsuion in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. However, Hardik was one of India’s match-winners in the final and was influencial for them throughout the tournament.

His performance in the final saw a huge change in behaviour of fans towards him. In fact, a young girl even apologised to him on live television.

Now, out-of-favour India wicketkeeper Ishan Kishan has recalled what Hardik told him when fans were going after him.

“I had a gut feeling that he (Hardik) was saving it all for the World Cup. I will never forget his words: ‘Ek baar performance aa jaaye fir jo aaj gaali de rahe wahi taaliyaan bajayenge (Once I start performing, those who are abusing me will be clapping for me). This is what he told me when I was also going through a really tough time. He said ‘let people talk, we will do our best and give 100 percent to the game we love’,” Kishan told the Indian Express.

Kishan, who lost his central contract and was seen training with Hardik before the IPL, also revealed how the India vice-captain never complained about the fan’s treatment of him.

“It is difficult to explain in words the past six months he has had, as there were all kinds of things said and written about him. But he never lost his cool. I was with him during most of that time – be it training with him in Vadodara or during the IPL – and I never heard him cribbing ki yaar, aisa kyun ho raha hai mere saath (Mate, why is this happening with me). He was calm about it, took it in a very sporting manner, and just focused on the game,” he explained.

“I remember Hardik bhai saying once during the IPL, ‘Jo haath mai nahi hai uske baare mey kya sochna. Log bol rahe hain, kyu bol rahe, wo sab control nahi kar sakte (Those things which are not in our hands, we can’t control. If I keep on thinking about what people are saying, I will lose it). The same bunch that has criticised me will celebrate me in the future and I just have to take it in a very sporting manner,” Kishan added.

BCCI secretary Jay Shah on Sunday congratulated Team India for winning the T20 World Cup title in West Indies via a video message and also expressed confidence in winning next year’s World Test Championship Final and Champions Trophy under Rohit Sharma’s leadership. Shah extended his heartfelt congratulations to the Men in Blue while dedicating the win to outgoing coach Rahul Dravid and the senior trio of Rohit, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja, who announced their retirements from T20Is following the title win against South Africa in Barbados.

“Many congratulations to Team India for this historic victory. I would like to dedicate this victory to coach Rahul Dravid, captain Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja. This was our third final in the last one year,” Shah said in a video message.

“We were in the WTC final in June 2023, but lost it. We won lots of hearts with ten consecutive wins in November 2023, but could not win the ODI World Cup. I had said in Rajkot that we will win the Cup in June 2024, we will win hearts, the World Cup and raise India’s flag high, and our captain exactly did that.”

#WATCH | BCCI Secretary Jay Shah congratulates the Indian cricket team on winning the ICC T20 World Cup

He says, “…I am confident that under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma, we will win the WTC Final and the Champions Trophy…”

(Source: BCCI) pic.twitter.com/NEAvQwxz8Y

— ANI (@ANI) July 7, 2024

The BCCI secretary outlined the importance of the final five overs of the summit clash that shifted momentum towards India as Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya bagged crucial wickets while Suryakumar Yadav’s flying catch on the boundary rope put the final nail in the coffin to make India triumphant.

“The last five overs in the final made a big contribution to this victory. For this contribution, I would like to extend my utmost thank to Suryakumar Yadav, (Jasprit) Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh and Hardik Pandya,” he said.

In the end, he put faith in Rohit’s leadership to win their first WTC Final and Champions Trophy too in 2025.

“After this victory, the next stage is the 2025 WTC final and the Champions Trophy. I am truly confident that we will win both the tournaments under the leadership of Rohit Sharma. Once again, thank you all. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Vande Mataram,” Shah concluded.

Indian team returned on Thursday and was hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his residence in New Delhi before leaving for Mumbai for a victory parade from Nariman Point to Wankhede Stadium. The team received a 125 crore prize money from BCCI at the Wankhede Stadium on bringing the T20 World Cup back on home soil after 17 years. It also ended the ICC title drought of 11 years for the country.

IPL 2024 Emerging Player of the Year Nitish Kumar Reddy has said that he is preparing to perform in the “Hardik Pandya-role” for Team India in the near future. After amassing 303 runs in the IPL at a strike-rate of 142, Reddy was set to make his debut in India’s post-T20 World Cup tour to Zimbabwe, but had to pull out at the last minute due to an injury. However, the Sunrisers Hyderabad star is certain that he will make his India debut soon.

“There’s a chance I’ll get to play at no. 7 or no. 6, most likely a Hardik Pandya role. I’m flexible to bat wherever I’m asked to, but as of now I’m preparing for the role that Hardik Pandya is playing,” said Reddy.

Reddy has showcased his ability as both a batsman, and lately as a handy pace bowler, and recently became the most expensive player in the Andhra Premier League.

The 21-year-old showed maturity beyond his years, and was realistic about the chances he would get in the India setup.

“If you ask me to open, I’ll open as well. In the near future, I won’t be getting the chance at the top order because there are more experienced players,” said Reddy. “I have to adapt to whatever role I’ll get, and I’ve been prepared to adapt this way by domestic cricket,” he added.

Reddy was selected for the five-T20I Zimbabwe tour alongside a bunch of new faces, in a side that will be led by Shubman Gill.

“I’m happy that there is a progression for youngsters who are performing well. After Rohit bhai (Rohit Sharma), Virat bhai (Virat Kohli) and Jaddu bhai (Ravindra Jadeja)’s retirements, there will be opportunities for youngsters. We need to grab them,” said Reddy.

At just 21, Reddy already has the world at his feet, and expressed delight to become a brand ambassador for Puma, the same brand as his idol, Virat Kohli.

“My inspiration is Virat Kohli, so I’m really proud to be a part of Puma. Puma really supported me through the IPL, and the greatest thing is that they’re providing opportunities to youngsters like myself and Riyan Parag,” Reddy said.

Nitish Kumar Reddy is expected to be retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad ahead of next year’s mega auction, after a successful IPL 2024.

Ishan Kishan paid a surprise visit to Hardik Pandya at him home.© X (Twitter)

India all-rounder Krunal Pandya penned a heartfelt note for brother Hardik Pandya, who played a crucial role in India ending a 11-year wait for ICC title during the recently-concluded T20 World Cup. Addressing the criticism Hardik has had to face, especially during IPL 2024, Krunal revealed that playing for India has always been his younger brother’s utmost priority. In a lengthy Instagram post, Krunal also pointed out how fans bowed and trolled Hardik, who kept his head grounded and responded to the critics with his performance during the T20 World Cup.

“It’s almost been a decade since Hardik and I started playing professional cricket. And the last few days have been like a fairy tale that we’ve dreamt off. Like every countryman I’ve lived this through our teams heroics and I couldn’t be more emotional with my brother being at the heart of it,” Krunal captioned a photo album.

Krunal insisted that the criticism has only motivated Hardik to come back even stronger.

“The last six months have been the toughest for Hardik. He simply didn’t deserve what he went through, and as a brother, I felt very, very bad for him. From booing, to people saying all kinds of nasty things, at the end of the day, we all forgot that he is just a human being who also has emotions. He somehow passed through all of this with a smile, though I know how hard it was for him to put on a smile. He kept working hard and focusing on what he needed to do to get the World Cup since that was his ultimate objective.”

“For Hardik, it has always been country first, and it will always be that way. For a young boy coming from Baroda, there can be no bigger achievement than helping his team win the World Cup.  Hardik, I am so, so proud of you. I love you so much, and you deserve every bit of happiness and all the good things that are coming your way. I have immense respect for you, my bachhu,” he added.

Recently, Hardik also admitted that while the past six months have been tough for him, he never lost patience.

“The last 6 months have been very entertaining for me, there have been a lot of ups and downs and the public booed me. A lot of things happened and I always felt that if I give any answer, it would be through sports… So I believed that I would stay strong, will work hard,” Hardik Pandya said during an interaction with PM Modi at the Prime Minister’s residence in Delhi.

Shubman Gill will lead a young Indian team in a five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe, starting with the opener on Saturday, July 6. With India captain Rohit Sharma announcing his T20I retirement after the World Cup final, and vice-captain Hardik Pandya rested for the tour, the selectors have showed faith in Gill to lead a second-string side. Following Rohit’s retirement, there has been debate regarding India’s next T20I captain. Many believe that Hardik, having led the team previously in Rohit’s absence, is likely to take over the role.

Sharing his views on the same, former India wicketkeeper-batter Saba Karim suggested that it is too early for the selectors to consider Gill for the role, adding that it is highly likely that Hardik will take over the reins.

“Potential yes but at this stage I think it’s very early for the selectors to actually decide who can be the captain in the years to come. There are a number of aspirants, Hardik Pandya right now is the vice-captain and I think with Rohit’s departure, it is more obvious that Pandya will take up the reins,” Karim told Sports Now.

“But yes, I think the Indian selectors have always looked at Shubman Gill as an all-format player and they feel he does have the required leadership skills to take the team forward, that is why this Zimbabwe series will be quite exciting for Gill not as a batter but also as a captain,” he added.

On the eve of the first T20I against Zimbabwe, Gill confirmed that Abhishek Sharma will make his debut in the series opener, revealing that the southpaw will open the innings with him, while Ruturaj Gaikwad will bat at no. 3.

“Abhishek Sharma will open with me, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will play at number three,” Gill said in the pre-match press conference.

The series against Zimbabwe will mark Gill’s debut stint as the Indian captain. Gill believes that he learned a lot of lessons in his debut captaincy stint in the cash-rich league.

“A lot of lessons. When I captain for the first time for my IPL team, I got to know a lot more things about myself and a lot more things about the leadership perspective. And I felt most of the challenges that you face as a captain are more mental,” he added.

Hardik Pandya (left) with PM Narendra Modi.© AFP