The 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season was one of the most difficult times for star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya. The decision to replace Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI) was contentious and drew a lot of criticism from supporters.
To exacerbate the situation, MI placed last in the table, and Hardik Pandya was frequently criticized. But his luck drastically shifted in the months that followed. He gained the affection and admiration of supporters by playing a significant part in India’s victories at the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025.
It was supposed to be a joyous homecoming when Pandya rejoined the Mumbai-based team before the 2024 Indian Premier League, but it swiftly devolved into a nightmare. The choice to replace Rohit infuriated fans, and Hardik Pandya took the brunt of the criticism. Throughout the tournament, the all-rounder was jeered everywhere he played. Pandya did not have the impact that was anticipated of him; he only managed to score 216 runs and claim 11 wickets. Finally speaking up, the 31-year-old discussed the difficult moments throughout the previous season.
“Having participated in the IPL for nearly 11 years, I find that every season offers new enthusiasm and optimism. As a team, the 2024 season was certainly difficult, but it also taught us priceless things. As we assembled our team for 2025, we examined and implemented those lessons. This season, we have a team of players with a wealth of experience who have competed at the highest level of cricket. That’s exciting enough on its own. Now, it’s critical that we work together as a team to carry out our plans effectively. He stated exclusively on Superstars on JioHotstar that “if we do that, we will have some very good days ahead.”
My biggest ally would always be cricket: Hardik Pandya
But only a few months after the IPL fiasco, his career took a dramatic turn for the better. His game-winning performance in the final against South Africa stood highlighted as a significant factor in India’s successful T20 World Cup campaign in Barbados.
The same supporters who had jeered him earlier cheered him on as he bowled the last over to give the Men in Blue the victory. He was showered with affection and joy when he arrived in Mumbai. In 2025, he once again won a Champions Trophy, demonstrating his enduring genius. According to Pandya, it was a battlefield he would never leave.
“Never leaving the battlefield has always meant something to me. In several stages of my career, I was more concerned with surviving and defending my position than I was with winning. I came to see that cricket was my path forward and would always be my best ally, regardless of what was going on around me. When all the effort paid off, it was more than I could have imagined. I persisted in pushing through.
“It was a total 180-degree turn around for me over the six months when we won the World Cup, and then the love and support I had when I got back. During that period, I was confident that I would emerge stronger provided I continued to be tenacious, truthful with my job, and gave it my all. “As they say, destiny had its plan, and in my case, everything changed within two and a half months,” he continued, “but I didn’t know exactly when that would happen.”
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