Hardik Pandya Reflects On Recent Criticism After T20 World Cup Triumph

Hardik Pandya says he believes in having a graceful approach towards life. The Indian all-rounder, who picked two crucial South African wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the nail-biting death overs of the T20 World Cup final, said he remained unfazed by critics who doubted him during his challenging tenure as the Mumbai Indians captain in the Indian Premier League.

Despite facing ridicule and boos from his own team's fans after replacing Rohit Sharma, Pandya's resilience and skill shone through in the T20 World Cup.

"I believe in grace. A lot was said by people who don't know even know me one percent as a person. People have spoken, no issues but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond," Pandya remarked, reflecting on the criticism.

"Even difficult times, they don't last forever. It is important to be graceful, whether you win or lose."

Pandya's all-round performance in the T20 World Cup silenced his critics. In the final against South Africa, he defended 16 runs in the last over, securing a historic win for India.

"To be honest, I was enjoying it. Very few get these life-changing opportunities. It could have gone the other way today, but I see the glass as half full, not half empty," he said of the high-pressure scenario. "I was not taking pressure and focusing on my skill sets. This was a moment written in the stars."

Looking ahead, Pandya is expected to take over as India's T20 captain following Rohit Sharma's retirement. However, he is not dwelling on the future just yet.

"2026 is a long time away. Very happy for Rohit and Virat. Very special two giants of Indian cricket who thoroughly deserved this, been amazing playing this format with them. We will miss them but this is the best farewell they could get. Happy for them to end like this," Pandya said.

(With inputs from PTI)