Krunal Pandya, a spin-all-round player, praised Hardik’s incredible recovery following India’s T20 World Cup victory on Friday. He said that despite the backlash, people seemed to have forgotten that his younger brother is only a “human being with emotions.”
Hardik transformed taunts into applause just one month after he was continuously heckled during the Indian Premier League, and he was a major factor in ending India’s 11-year ICC title drought.
India won their first international championship since the 2013 Champions Trophy after pulling off a thrilling comeback to defeat South Africa by seven runs in the T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown last Saturday.
“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,” Krunal wrote in a long emotional post in his Instagram handle.
“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.”
Hardik’s hardships from the previous year were emphasized by Krunal, especially the persistent jeers and booing he encountered at the Wankhede Stadium during the 2024 Indian Premier League season upon his unexpected return to the Mumbai Indians.
After leading the Gujarat Titans for two years, he returned to take Rohit Sharma’s spot as MI captain.
Additionally, he had trouble getting going, as the five-time IPL champions finished last under his leadership—only the second time in 17 editions.
“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 added.
Hardik’s ODI World Cup campaign was cut short in November 2023 due to an injury, and his disappointing IPL return only made matters worse.
Despite his struggles, Hardik proved decisive during the T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies, especially in crucial moments for Team India, including the final.
“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.
“He has now played his heart out to realise India’s long standing dream – And nothing has ever meant to him more. From the age of 6 – It’s playing for the country and winning the World Cup that’s been the dream.
In the final, Hardik took the game-changing wicket of Heinrich Klaasen and dismissed David Miller in the last over, defending 16 runs to secure a seven-run victory over South Africa in Bridgetown.
He amassed 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 in six innings and picked up 11 wickets throughout the tournament.
“I just want to remind people that what Hardik has done in such a short span in his career is unbelievable. His efforts for the national team have never been compromised. Every time, at every stage of Hardik’s life, people have written him off, and that has only motivated him to come back even stronger.
“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,” Krual signed off.
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