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Anand Mahindra & Hardik Pandya (Source: X)
Prominent industrialist Anand Mahindra shared an inspirational note on Hardik Pandya, who played a key role in India’s second T20 World Cup win on Saturday. An avid cricket fan, the Mahindra Group chairman is known for his motivational and thought-provoking quotes. He picked the Gujarat all-rounder's tale as his 'Monday motivation' for the week.
A few months before the World Cup, Pandya has gone through hell, especially during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 season. He alone was crucified for the Mumbai Indians management's decision to replace Rohit Sharma from the leadership role. He became one of the most hated cricketers in the world.
A victim of cyber-bullying, he was booed by fans throughout the IPL season. Moreover, MI endured one of the worst campaigns in their history, finishing at the bottom of the table. Pandya failed to replicate the success he achieved with Gujarat Titans and was a complete failure as a player too.
But at least some true cricket fans might have believed that the 30-year-old is a different breed when it comes to major tournaments. And that's exactly what he proved in the recently concluded series, contributing significantly in both departments. Team India were in tears following their historic win and Pandya was sobbing so much, showing what it meant to him.
Mahindra said that his “tears came from seeing redemption.” Sharing a teary-eyed picture of Pandya on his X handle, the Indian businessman reminded his followers about the brutal trolls Pandya faced before the World Cup.
“Take a good look. This is the face of a sportsperson who was being heckled on the field and roasted on social media a very short while ago. His tears came from seeing redemption,” he wrote.
“Because when that picture was taken, he was a hero again. For having bowled the nerve-wracking last over in the #T20WorldCupFinal and being one of the key players in achieving India’s victory. The moral? Whenever life deals you a blow & knocks you down….You can, and will, Rise again…He’s my #MondayMotivation,” Mahindra added.
Take a good look.
— anand mahindra (@anandmahindra) July 1, 2024
This is the face of a sportsperson who was being heckled on the field and roasted on social media a very short while ago.
His tears came from seeing redemption.
Because when that picture was taken, he was a hero again.
For having bowled the nerve-wracking… pic.twitter.com/pTKNCMsyzU
How my last 6 months were, I haven’t spoken a word: Hardik Pandya after World Cup win
Pandya’s most vital contribution came in the final, where he took three wickets, including the game-changing wicket of Heinrich Klaasen when South Africa was well ahead in the chase. South Africa needed just 16 runs in the final over with David Miller in the crease. But he dismissed the big-hitter on the very first ball and successfully defended the target to give India a famous seven-run win.
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"It means a lot. Very emotional, we’ve been working very hard and something was not clicking. But today we got what the whole nation wanted. More special for me, how my last 6 months were, I haven’t spoken a word. I knew that if I kept working hard I could shine and do what I could do. Getting an opportunity like this makes it more special," Hardik Pandya said in the post-match presentation.