Mumbai: Recently, Hardik Pandya Making headlines for reasons other than cricket. His heartwarming celebration with girlfriend Mahieka Sharma after India won the 2026 T20 World Cup drew criticism, with an advocate from Nagpur even filing a police complaint. Reports that the all-rounder bought a Ferrari 12Cilindri worth Rs 12 crore has further fueled buzz about his flamboyant lifestyle – from his blonde hairdo to his signature gold chain.Push boundaries with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!However, despite this, Pandya’s key role in India’s back-to-back T20 World Cup triumphs in 2024 and 2026 has not received the same attention.In both the semi-finals against England at the Wankhede Stadium in 2026 and the final against South Africa in Barbados in 2024, Pandya played a decisive role in the dying moments, proving the perfect pace bowling foil for the incomparable Jasprit Bumrah. Bumrah deserves most of the credit, but Pandya’s contribution is equally important.
In the 2026 semi-finals, Pandya scored 27 off 12 balls before taking 2/38 in four overs in a high-scoring match.When he came on to bowl in the 19th over, England needed 39 runs in two overs and Jacob Bethell smashed 105 off 48 balls, threatening to chase down India’s formidable 253. After Besser’s first six, Pandya responded brilliantly, conceding just 3 runs in the next 5 deliveries and dismissing Sam Curran.With 30 overs remaining in the final over, Pandya produced a moment of brilliance on the field – at the start of the 20th over, he bowled a bullet from long-on that struck Besser, effectively sealing the match for India.
Overall, Pandya ended the tournament with nine wickets at 32.33 with an economy of 8.81 while scoring 217 runs at a strike rate of 160.74, including two fifties.With the bat, one of his key contributions was his 21-ball 30, including 3 sixes, against Netherlands in Ahmedabad, which helped India recover from 110/4 in the 14th over. His 76-run stand with Shivam Dube saw India post figures of 196/6, a total that ultimately proved to be enough.Two years ago, after enduring perhaps the toughest IPL season of his career mumbai indiansPandya bounced back strongly in the 2024 T20 World Cup, taking 11 wickets at 17.36 in 8 games while scoring 114 runs with 48 runs, including a fifty.While Bumrah’s 2/18 grabbed the headlines in the 2024 Barbados final, Pandya turned things around with figures of 3/20 in three overs. When he returned in the 17th over, South Africa needed 26 off 24 balls. Pandya conceded just four runs and dismissed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who scored 52 runs (27b).Pandya was entrusted with the last over and then had David Miller caught by Suryakumar Yadav, whose stunning running catch helped India register a dramatic seven-run victory. A source close to Pandya said cricket remains the all-rounder’s main focus, especially in big matches.“Cricket was his first love. Cricket above all else. But off the field, he enjoyed his life and didn’t worry about what others said. His philosophy was simple: live life to the fullest, but when it comes to cricket, be totally dedicated.”According to sources, Pandya gets into a different “zone” before big matches. “He took a break from the ODI series against New Zealand in January and is fully focused on preparations for the T20 World Cup. He trains twice a day, maintains discipline and avoids social media. He believes in practicing quietly and not showing everything on Instagram. “Sources added that Pandya even shut down social media a month before the big match. “He doesn’t read the newspapers or pay attention to online chatter. His focus is only on winning trophies.”Pandya’s understanding of the game has also improved significantly over the years. “As a batsman, he reads bowlers well, and as a bowler, he reads batsmen well. He may not be the fastest, but he uses his intelligence and variety – especially the outside bowlers – to get the job done.”Although the 32-year-old is no longer the captain of the Indian team, he has embraced his role as the team’s senior leader. During the World Cup, he was often seen encouraging his teammates, especially all-rounder Shivam Dube, at team gatherings.Quite simply, Pandya remains one of the best white-ball all-rounders in world cricket and arguably India’s best since the legendary Kapil Dev.Frequent injuries may have cost him the white-ball captaincy, but Pandya returns time and time again, leaner, fitter and hungrier.After playing his eighth Test against England at Southampton almost eight years ago, Pandya gave up red-ball cricket to extend his white-ball career – a decision that has clearly paid off. In limited overs cricket, Pandya continues to be a player that India can rely on with both bat and ball.
