Hardik Pandya: From Villain to Hero at Wankhede

From being a ‘villain’ to becoming a ‘hero’ in just two months—this sums up Hardik Pandya’s transformation. Earlier this year, Hardik joined Mumbai Indians for the IPL and faced boos from the home crowd at Wankhede Stadium. Fast forward to now, and those same fans are chanting “Hardik, Hardik” in celebration of India's World Cup victory. Two months isn't a long time, but it was enough for Hardik to turn from a ‘villain’ into a ‘hero’.

The emotions were clear in Hardik’s tear-filled eyes on June 29 at Kensington Oval in Barbados, as India clinched the World Cup against South Africa. His tears told the story of the pain from not having the support of his own team’s fans during the IPL, and the criticism from many who questioned his inclusion in the World Cup squad.

Rohit Sharma, who has led the Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, saw Hardik join the team this year and take over as captain. The decision to replace Rohit with Hardik as captain was not well-received by the fans, and there were rumors about a strained relationship between Rohit and Hardik. However, Thursday’s events at Wankhede Stadium proved these concerns unfounded.

At Wankhede Stadium, Rohit Sharma’s words brought Hardik Pandya to tears. During the World Cup celebration, Rohit gave special credit to Hardik for India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup. Standing on the stage at Wankhede, Rohit praised Hardik, saying:

"In the final over, saving any runs is incredibly difficult. There’s immense pressure. Congratulations to him for his excellent bowling in the final over. First, he got Klaasen out and brought us back into the game. Then he took Miller's wicket in the final over, sealing our World Cup win. Hats off to Hardik."

In this T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya scored 114 runs and took 11 wickets. In the final against South Africa, he took 3 wickets for 20 runs. Such outstanding performance propelled him to the top of the ICC T20 all-rounder rankings.