No one can forget what happened with Hardik Pandya in the last IPL season, from being booed everywhere to struggling with form, and on top of that, Mumbai Indians struggled a lot under his captaincy. In short, problems surrounded him from all sides.
However, in just seven months after the IPL, Hardik Pandya put all the negativity behind him and redeemed himself as India’s best white-ball all-rounder. His performance in the 2024 T20 World Cup was nothing short of incredible. More recently, in the Champions Trophy, India lifted the silverware, and once again, Pandya’s all-round contribution gained massive attention.
No wonder everyone is praising his redemption story, especially considering the backlash he faced from many MI fans when he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain. He endured two tough months, but after that, it was all about his remarkable comeback.
Recently, former Indian cricketer Mohammad Kaif spoke about Pandya’s journey, stating that star player was “mentally tortured” during the 2024 season. Kaif also said that Pandya’s story deserves a biopic, highlighting how he overcame the challenges and scripted his comeback.
Mohammad Kaif on Hardik Pandya’s struggles and redemption
“He kept that pain to himself and went forward, and that has been Hardik Pandya’s comeback story. It was a bad journey. Fans booed him, and people wrote him off. As a player mein apko bata sakta hu, beizatti…apman ke saath aage barna, use sehna, sabse gehra zakhan hota hai (As a player, moving forward with insults hurts deeply). A player never forgets that. You can drop him, but being insulted wasn’t a good sign. Kaif said on social media
It turns out to be mental torture for the player. Mental torture—that is what happened to Hardik. Despite all, he played in the T20 World Cup, where he dismissed Heinrich Klaasen in the final. Then, in the Champions Trophy, he scored sixes against Zampa. He performed with the bat and ball, fighting fiercely like a lion. If there is ever a biopic on him, then the last seven months should be an example for players of how to fight against all odds, stay calm, trust your strengths and make a comeback,” he added.
No need to write off Pandya this time
Apart from talking about redemption, Kaif also said that Hardik Pandya has a lot ahead of him this time and will surely be a player to watch out for. Since he is the captain of Mumbai Indians, all eyes will be on him, not just for his individual performance but also as a leader. Kaif believes that Pandya has the potential to take MI into the top four.
“Watch out for Hardik in IPL 2025. Mumbai will be back in the top four; that’s a guarantee. Fans will support him again, and Rohit Sharma will give him the backing. While going through his worst phase, he went on to win two trophies for India. It wasn’t easy, but he fought back, so hats off.”
