The game that kickstarted Hardik Pandya’s rise

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is known for his brisk seam bowling and explosive batting, capable of hitting sixes from the very first ball. However, his journey to becoming one of India’s most impactful cricketers had humble beginnings.

Pandya first made headlines in domestic cricket while representing Baroda, but it was his stunning unbeaten 61 off 31 balls for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the IPL 2015 that brought him into the national spotlight. That innings marked the start of his association with MI, a franchise with which he went on to win four IPL titles.

By the end of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Pandya had evolved into one of India’s key leaders and was widely viewed as a future captain. Before this, he led Gujarat Titans (GT) to a maiden IPL title in their debut season in 2022, showcasing his leadership acumen.

Pandya made his international debut in 2016, being selected for the limited-overs tour of Australia, before impressing with his seam bowling in the Asia Cup on the seamer-friendly tracks of Bangladesh. Despite suffering a serious back injury in 2018 that limited his bowling workload for a time, Pandya fought his way back to become a senior member of the national setup in the 2020s.

He has since established himself as one of India’s premier all-rounders across formats, amassing 532 runs and 17 wickets in Tests, 1904 runs and 91 wickets in ODIs, and 1860 runs and 98 wickets in T20Is.

Which was the match where Hardik Pandya’s success started?

However, the match that truly marked the turning point in Pandya’s international career came during the 2016 ICC T20 World Cup clash between India and Bangladesh at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru. India had set a modest target of 147, and Bangladesh looked poised for victory, needing 11 runs off the final over with Pandya given the ball.

After conceding two boundaries in the over, Bangladesh required just two runs from three balls. Pandya then dismissed Mushfiqur Rahim and Mahmudullah in consecutive deliveries before holding his nerve on the final ball, helping India snatch a one-run victory.

That extraordinary final over not only kept India alive in the tournament but also announced Pandya as a star in the making and a fearless cricketer who thrived under pressure. From that night in Bengaluru, there was no looking back for the Baroda all-rounder.