Hardik Pandya experienced a remarkable turnaround from enduring criticism from Mumbai Indians (MI) fans to leading India to a historic T20 World Cup 2024 victory.

Prior to the IPL 2024 season, Hardik moved from the Gujarat Titans to MI in a significant all-cash deal and was appointed captain, replacing Rohit Sharma. This decision was met with mixed reactions from Mumbai fans, who jeered at Hardik during various matches of the league. Former cricketers, including Irfan Pathan, also criticized his performance.

Despite the criticism, Hardik remained composed and focused, playing a key role in India’s T20 World Cup success. His performance not only silenced his critics but also won over the fans.

In an interview with Star Sports after the T20 World Cup, Irfan Pathan explained that his earlier criticism of Hardik was due to his underwhelming performance during the IPL 2024 season. Pathan acknowledged Hardik’s impressive comeback, praising his significant contributions alongside Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in India’s World Cup campaign.

Hardik’s T20 World Cup performance was exceptional, notably defending 15 runs in the final over to secure a seven-run victory against South Africa in the final at Kensington Oval, Barbados. Throughout the tournament, he took 11 wickets in eight innings and scored 144 runs in six innings, with a standout performance of 50* off 27 balls against Bangladesh in the Super 8 stage.