India all rounder Hardik Pandya expressed his love for the people of Mumbai after getting a rousing reception in the city after their T20 World Cup 2024 triumph.
Mumbai didn’t disappoint: Pandya elated after winning back love of fans (PTI Photo)
- Hardik expresses his love for Mumbai
- The all rounder was booed by MI fans in IPL 2024
- Pandya gave all-round peformance in T20 WC
India all-rounder Hardik Pandya recalled his dreamy journey on the cricket field as he celebrated India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph with his teammates during the special victory parade in Mumbai. Notably, the Men in Blue were given a rousing reception upon their arrival back home.
They were first hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a breakfast meet and later travelled to Mumbai for a special victory parade organized by the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India). In a video released by the BCCI, Hardik Pandya can be seen expressing his emotions seeing the huge turn up of people for the victorious team India.
The 30-year-old remembered his old days when he celebrated India’s 2007 World cup win on the roads and stated that it’s surreal to think that he’s now actually on the bus as a part of the team.
“I must be on the road (in 2007) because in 2011, I was on the road, celebrating the same team when they came. For me it’s more surreal that after 13 years the next trophy that we’ve got, which I celebrated, I am part of the team. It’s Bombay for me eventualy, where my journey started and this will be more special, getting the cup back home and it’s so many people’s heart full of joy and happiness. I don’t think there is any more bigger pleasure or blessing than this,” said Pandya in the video
Hardik’s all-round show in T20 World Cup
Hardik played a pivotal role in India’s victorious campaign with both bat and ball scoring 144 runs from six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 registering one half century. His highest score of the tournament came against Bangladesh in the Super 8 stages when he scored an unbeaten 50* (27).
With the ball, the right-arm seamer picked up 11 wickets from eight innings at an average of 17.36 and an economy of 7.64. The 30-year-old saved his best bowling performance for the final picking up 3/20 in three overs which included the prized scalps of Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) and David Miller(21 off 17). He defended 16 runs of the final over by dismissing Miller on the very first ball and set up a seven-run win for India.
