WATCH: After t-shirt, a fan throws tennis ball at Hardik Pandya and the allrounder ...

TOI Sports Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Jul 18, 2024, 11:30 IST

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Hardik Pandya's fortunes have taken a dramatic turn, both on and off the cricket field. The once-jeered player during the IPL has now become a fan favorite, thanks to his outstanding performance at the T20 World Cup. Fans have been going to great lengths to catch his attention. At the felicitation ceremony held at Mumbai's renowned Wankhede Stadium, a fan threw their T-shirt at Hardik during the victory lap. Later, in Vadodara, where an open-top bus parade was arranged solely in his honor, a fan tossed a tennis ball at him, which the all-rounder deftly caught with one hand.

WATCH: After t-shirt, a fan throws tennis ball at Hardik Pandya and the allrounder ...

Hardik Pandya (IANS Photo)

NEW DELHI: Hardik Pandya has turned the tables around not just on the field but off it as well, with the jeers of fans in the IPL turning into cheers after his heroic show at the T20 World Cup. And the fans have tried to get his attention in the most innovative ways.
First, a fan threw his T-shirt at him during a victory lap at the felicitation ceremony in Mumbai's iconic Wankhede Stadium and then in Vadodara, where an open top bus parade was organized exclusively for Hardik, he fan threw a tennis ball at him and the allrounder caught it one hand.
During the roadshow in his hometown, Hardik, warmly welcomed by the crowd, spotted a tennis ball flying towards him and instinctively grabbed it, which brought a broad smile to his face.
Hardik's brother, Krunal, also joined him at the roadshow.

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In the T20 World Cup, Pandya excelled with both bat and ball, scoring 144 runs in six innings at an average of 48.00 and a strike rate of 151.57, including a half-century.
The allrounder also claimed 11 wickets in eight matches at an average of 17.36 and an economy rate of 7.64, with best figures of 3/20.
India ended their 11-year ICC trophy drought as Virat Kohli (76), Hardik Pandya (3/20), Jasprit Bumrah (2/18) and Arshdeep Singh (2/20) starred in a thrilling seven-run victory over South Africa in the final at Barbados on June 29.
Reflecting on his journey, Hardik spoke about his transformation from struggling with injury during the 50-over World Cup last year to achieving victory in the T20 World Cup for the 'Men in Blue', showcasing his all-round performance.

"It was a difficult journey after the freak 2023 Cup injury but well worth the effort with the T20 WC win. The results come as long as you put in the effort. Hard work doesn't go unnoticed. Let's all try our best and work on our fitness," Pandya said.

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TOI Sports Desk

The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide. From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more. The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics. We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects. We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.

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