Speaking to the broadcaster after the game, Pandya reflected on the previous six months and revealed that he had not lost his temper once when things were going wrong, which was why the victory felt all the more meaningful. Mumbai Indians (MI) supporters and social media trolls had been very harsh to Pandya during Indian Premier League 2024.
MI brought back Pandya after a 2-year stink with Gujrat Titans(GT), which made their winning debut session in 2022, but replacing Rohit Sharma as a captain led to a massive social-media backlash. Pandya was even booed in stadiums all over India during the matches.
Pandya said that India wee calm throughout the game and always and always believed that they could win. Even though being trolled mercilessly during the IPL, on both personal and professional level, he said what many have could been the World Cup-winning moment.
“It means a lot. Very emotional, we’d been working very hard and something was not clicking. But today we hot what the whole nation wanted. More special for me, how my last 6 months were, I haven’t spoken a word, things have been unfair. I knew that if I kept working hard I could shine and do what I could do. getting an opportunity like this makes it more special. We always believed it was just about executing our plans and staying calm and letting the pressure come to them,” Pandya said in the post-match presentation.
“I believe in grace. A lot was said by people who don’t even know me one percent as a person. People have spoken, no issues but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond.”
As the pressure started to build, India made their way back in the final over as Pandya and Bumrah combined to pull off a superb back-end effort to help India win by 7 runs.
“Credit to Jassi (Bumrah) and the other bowlers for those last 5 overs. Knew it would not help me if I wasn’t calm, wanted to commit 100% to every ball I’ve bowled. I’ve always enjoyed the pressure. Very happy for him,” Pandya said.
The stadium had a whole another atmosphere. Filled with excitement, the Indian players poured their hearts out on the pitch, as others from the dugout joined them to celebrate with others. A loud symphony echo covered the whole stadium as the audience let out their roars. Meanwhile, for South Africa, it was another heartbreak.
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