Team India won their second T20 World Cup after defeating South Africa in a final-over thriller. All-Rounder Hardik Pandya was in the thick of things, as India ended an 11-year-long trophy draught at ICC events.
Pandya was the vice-captain of the team that lifted the trophy in Barbados last week. The year 2024, has not been kind on the Baroda-born cricketer. He was booed and blasted for his performances with Mumbai Indians in IPL 2024.
Moreover, even his selection for the T20 World Cup squad was questioned quite extensively, after the 30-year-old was sidelined before the IPL, due to injury. But the younger Pandya has shooed those boos, and how! Hardik bowled the final over in the T20 World Cup Final, helping India win by 7 runs.
Hardik's elder brother, Krunal Pandya posted an emotional Instagram update on Friday, as Team India made a return to the homeland in Mumbai.
BET NOW: Exclusive sign-up offers and bonuses when you bet on T20 World Cup action
What did Krunal Pandya say about Hardik Pandya on T20 World Cup win?
Krunal Pandya made an emotional post on Instagram, congratulating his younger brother Hardik for winning the T20 World Cup 2024. The year has been a struggling one for the younger Pandya, who took everything thrown at him, on the chin.
Krunal revealed how he was gutted that his younger kin had to go through what he did. He reminded how the masses forgot that Hardik, like everyone else, was a 'human being with emotions'.
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, Krunal Pandya posted on Instagram.
Hardik dodged every bullet with a brave heart, and a smile on his face. He never complained or taunted on the trolls, but kept his focus on winning the T20 World Cup for India, and win, he did!
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, Krunal Pandya revealed.
How did Hardik Pandya perform at the T20 World Cup 2024?
Batting Stats
| Matches | Innings | Runs | Average | Strike Rate | 50s | High Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 6 | 144 | 48.00 | 151.57 | 1 | 50* |
Bowling Stats
| Matches | Wickets | Average | Strike Rate | Economy | 3w | Best Figures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 11 | 17.36 | 13.63 | 7.64 | 2 | 3/20 |
If you purchase a product or register for an account through one of the links on our site, we may receive compensation. Sporting News has editorial oversight for this content. Learn more >