Mumbai: Late, Hardik Pandya He has been in the headlines for reasons other than cricket. After India’s victory in the 2026 T20 World Cup, his casual celebrations with girlfriend Mahika Sharma drew criticism, with a Nagpur-based lawyer even filing a police complaint. Reports of the all-rounder buying a Rs 12-crore Ferrari 12-cylinder have fueled the buzz around his lavish lifestyle – from his blonde hairstyle to his trademark gold chain.Go beyond limits with our YouTube channel. Subscribe now!Yet, amid all the hype, Pandya’s pivotal role in India’s back-to-back T20 World Cup wins in 2024 and 2026 has not received much attention.In both the 2026 semi-final against England at the Wankhede Stadium and the 2024 final against South Africa in Barbados, Pandya played decisive spells at the death, leaving Jasprit Bumrah undone by the pacer. Bumrah rightly walked away with most of the accolades, but Pandya’s contribution was equally important.
In the 2026 semi-final, Pandya scored a 12-ball 27 before returning figures of 2/38 from four overs in a high-scoring contest.When they came to bowl the 19th over, England needed 39 from two overs, with Jacob Bethel – who scored 105 off 48 balls – threatening to chase down India’s difficult 253.With 30 runs needed in the last over, Pandya then produced a brilliant performance in the field – a bullet throw from long-off that ran Bethel out at the start of the 20th over, effectively sealing the match for India.
Overall, Pandya finished the tournament with nine wickets at 32.33, an economy of 8.81 from nine matches, while scoring 217 runs at a strike rate of 160.74, including two fifties.With the bat, one of his key contributions came against the Netherlands in Ahmedabad, where his 21-ball 30, including three sixes, helped India recover from 110/4 in the 14th over. His 76-run stand with Shivam Dubey took India to 196/6, which proved to be enough in the end.Two years ago, after enduring perhaps the toughest IPL season of his career Mumbai IndiansPandya made a brilliant comeback in the 2024 T20 World Cup, taking 11 wickets at 17.36 in eight matches while scoring 114 runs at 48, including a fifty.In the 2024 final in Barbados, while Bumrah’s 2/18 grabbed the headlines, it was Pandya who turned the game around with figures of 3/20 in three overs. When he returned in the 17th over, South Africa needed 26 runs from 24 balls. Pandya conceded just four runs and removed the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, who had made 52 (27b).In the last over, Pandya had David Miller caught by Suryakumar Yadav, whose brilliant running catch sealed India’s dramatic seven-run win. Sources close to Pandya say cricket is the all-rounder’s main focus, especially around big tournaments.“Cricket is his first love. He takes precedence over everything else. But off the field he enjoys his life and doesn’t care what people say. His philosophy is 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 tournaments. “He was rested from the ODI series against New Zealand in January and his focus was on preparing for the T20 World Cup. He trained twice a day, stayed disciplined and avoided social media. He believes in practicing quietly instead of showing everything on Instagram.Sources added that Pandya also shuts down social media a month before major tournaments. “He doesn’t read newspapers or chat online. He is only focused on winning trophies.”Pandya’s understanding of the game has also improved significantly over the years. “As a batsman he reads the bowlers well, and as a bowler he reads the batsmen well. He may not be the quickest, but he uses his intelligence and variations – especially that outswinger – to get things done.”Although no longer captaining India in any format, the 32-year-old has embraced his role as a senior leader in the team. During the World Cup, he was often seen encouraging teammates, especially fellow all-rounder Shivam Dubey.Quite simply, Pandya is one of the best white-ball all-rounders in world cricket – arguably India’s best all-rounder after the legendary Kapil Dev.Repeated injuries may have cost him the white-ball captaincy, but Pandya has time and again returned lean, fit and hungry.Almost eight years ago, after playing his eighth Test against England in Southampton, Pandya stepped away from red-ball cricket to pursue his white-ball career – a decision that has clearly paid off. In limited overs cricket, Pandya is the player India can rely on both with bat and ball.
