Hardik Pandya went through quite the emotional journey in 2024. In just a few months, he went from being booed during the IPL season to celebrating with the Indian team as they won the T20 World Cup in Barbados. After recently claiming the ICC Men's Champions Trophy in 2025, Hardik has finally shared his thoughts on the tough times he faced over the past year.

During the last IPL season, Hardik dealt with some tough crowds after stepping in as captain of the Mumbai Indians, taking over from Rohit Sharma. Fans were not happy about Rohit being replaced, and as a result, Hardik faced a lot of boos every time he took the field.

Even the home crowd at Wankhede Stadium wasn't supportive of Hardik leading the team. In the opening match in Mumbai, he was met with boos from all sides, prompting former Indian player Sanjay Manjrekar to urge the fans to "behave."

The Mumbai Indians had a rough season, finishing at the bottom of the points table, and Hardik struggled too, managing only 216 runs and taking 11 wickets.

Just two months later, Hardik made a triumphant return to Mumbai, greeted with cheers and excitement as he played a key role in helping the team finally clinch the ICC title by winning the T20 World Cup in Barbados. In the final match against South Africa, Hardik bowled the last over, and we all remember what happened on June 29, 2024.

Reflecting on that challenging time, Hardik shared that he never wanted to step away from the game, even when things got tough.

"It's all about staying in the game. For me, it was more about enduring than just winning. That year was all about holding my ground and not giving up. I realized that cricket would be my ally and help me through it," Hardik said during an episode of JioStar's 'Superstars'.

"I just kept pushing myself. Looking back, I couldn't have imagined a better story for my life. Those six months, winning the World Cup and receiving so much love upon my return, felt like a complete turnaround for me. I knew that if I stayed dedicated and worked hard, I could overcome the challenges. But I had no idea how it would unfold; it was like it was all part of a divine plan that took just two and a half months," he added.

How does Hardik view the Mumbai Indians team this season?

Hardik Pandya shared some thoughts on the auction strategy of the franchise. He mentioned that the five-time IPL champions aimed to bring in seasoned players to strengthen their team.

"This year, our focus was on gaining experience. If you look at our entire roster, it's clear we wanted a solid bowling lineup. Playing at Wankhede can be pretty intense, especially in the IPL in Mumbai," Hardik explained.

"The pitches tend to be high-scoring, so we aimed to recruit players with plenty of experience who can handle the swing and bounce of that surface. I believe we've built a really strong team from top to bottom. Now, it’s just about everyone stepping up," he added.

The IPL 2022 season kicks off on March 22, starting with a match between KKR and RCB. The Mumbai Indians will launch their season on March 23 against their long-time rivals, the Chennai Super Kings, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium.

Read Also: Harbhajan Singh's Caution to Patidar: Captaining RCB More Challenging Than Leading India

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