From receiving unnecessary hate from the Mumbai Indians fans to emerging as India’s match-winner in the final clash against South Africa – life came to a full circle for Hardik Pandya, who had been to hell and back in the last few months.
It wasn’t easy for Pandya and the same was reflected as he went down on the ground after Anrich Nortje hit the last ball of the final over towards Arshdeep Singh at sweeper cover, confirming the win of team India in the final clash. Tears couldn’t stop flowing from his eyes. He finished the final clash with 3/20 and the tournament with 11 wickets and 144 runs to his tally.
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Meanwhile, former South African captain and one of the best all-time batters in the world, AB de Villiers doffed his hat to the star Indian all-rounder Pandya after he played an instrumental role in Team India’s historic T20 World Cup 2024 win in the USA and West Indies.
AB de Villiers Slammed Mumbai Indians Fans While Praising Hardik Pandya After His T20 World Cup 2024 Heroics
De Villiers, who respects Hardik Pandya for all that he went through, made sure to put his point across to all those who doubted Pandya. De Villiers emphasized how the star all-rounder has faced significant challenges and criticism in the last few months, especially with his transitions between the Gujarat Titans (GT) and the Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2024.
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AB de Villiers took a dig at the Mumbai Indians fans for trolling and sending hate towards Hardik Pandya and his family during the IPL 2024 after he made his country proud by helping them lift the prestigious T20 World Cup 2024 trophy after 17 years.
As per AB de Villiers, Pandya’s performance in the last over of the 2024 T20 World Cup was the defining moment for the all-rounder. Speaking on his YouTube channel, AB de Villiers said:
“What stands out for me are the big moments. A guy like Hardik Pandya who’s been through a roller-coaster himself with Mumbai Indians – moving from Gujarat to Mumbai – and all the criticism he coped with, getting the ball from the captain in the final of the T20 World Cup. That was his moment to go like, ‘You know what… all Indian fans out there, this is what I am about as a cricket player’.”
He added, “He made everyone proud out there. Even though I did not want him to succeed like that, I look back and have a lot of respect for that. He is a big man for a big moment and that’s exactly the way he played. To all you Mumbai Indians fans out there who doubted him, I’m pretty sure he has secured a spot in your hearts for the future.”
For the unversed, in the T20 World Cup 2024 final, Hardik Pandya was entrusted with the ball at a crucial moment by the Indian captain Rohit Sharma and the all-rounder repaid his trust in him, showcasing his talent and determination on the biggest stage. Hardik Pandya defended 15 runs in the last over to end India’s 11-year-long wait for the ICC trophy.
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