Hardik Pandya made his India debut in 2016 under MS Dhoni. He had returned with the figures of 2/37 in his first T20I match against Australia.
Hardik Pandya (right) with MS Dhoni. (Courtesy: Reuters)
HIGHLIGHTS
- Hardik Pandya made his India debut in 2016 under MS Dhoni
- Hardik Pandya had returned with the figures of 2/37 in his first T20I match
- Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to 2022 IPL glory in the team’s maiden year
Hardik Pandya recalled the support he received from India legend MS Dhoni, saying he feels lucky and blessed to have played under his leadership.
The 28-year-old all-rounder made his T20I and ODI debut in 2016 and the following year wore India whites. Pandya fine tuned his form in the recently concluded IPL 2022 and led new entrants Gujarat Titans to glory as captain.
“When I joined the Indian team, I saw guys whom I had seen growing up Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra. Even before I played for India, they were the stars. For me, when I went there it was a big thing,” Hardik told SGTV podcast.
“So obviously the kind of debut I had I think I am the first cricketer who had gone for 21 runs in his first over I genuinely felt that ok, this might be my last over. But I was very blessed and lucky to play under Mahi bhai who showed lot of trust in us which has helped us reach where we did.”
While bowling against Australia in a T20I match in 2016, Pandya went for 21 runs in his first over. Unlike any other captain who would hesitate to give a newcomer another chance, Dhoni showed his trust in Pandya and gave him another opportunity to finish with 2/37 from three overs.
Although Pandya didn’t get a chance to bat during the T20I series against Australia, an impressed Dhoni guaranteed the all-rounder of a place in India’s World Cup squad.
“Just after the third game of my international career, Mahi bhai told me you will be the World Cup team. So for me, to play World Cup or to get to know that in the third game I just got to know about this. I did not even bat in that game but he assured me that you have expressed yourself. Yeah, it was just a dream come true,” Pandya said.