Hardik Pandya used to hide the car for not being able to pay its EMI for two years

The star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has opened up on his struggles before hogging the limelight at the highest level for last few years. The youngster is currently enjoying the break as he was rested for the Test series against Sri Lanka. Though he is back for the limited-overs leg of the tour and is raring to get back on the field. However, he himself has revealed that he used to hide the car from others as they had not paid its EMI for almost two years.

The 24-year-old has been the vital cog of the Indian side since his debut and is being looked at as the future star of the team. His swashbuckling batting along with his canny bowling has made him the most valuable player of the team across formats. Also, he was rested for the ongoing Test series only to keep him fresh for the all-important tour of South Africa in January next year. Though Pandya has struggled during his early days and worked hard to earn a place in the team and richly deserves all the accolades coming his way.

Only EMI and food mattered to us

Hardik Pandya revealed the struggles of his early days in cricket while speaking on the show ‘Breakfast with Champions’ which is hosted by the cricket presenter Gaurav Kapur. “I have struggled for three years. We used to save Rs 5 and Rs 10. I still remember in IPL, we got around Rs 70 thousand and we thought we would survive on it for some time. Because we were struggling for almost three years then,” he said.

“We had not paid EMI for two years. We were smart, we used to hide our car. We didn’t want the car to go. Everything we earned in those three years was supposed to be saved for the car rather than having something new for us or buying something. It was just car’s EMI and food that mattered to us at that time,” Pandya added. But the life changed for him ever since he was picked by Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

“God is kind. My first year, we won the IPL and then I got a cheque of Rs 50 lakhs. From there, I got a car for free and I bought a new car as well. Imagine, three months back we were struggling and fighting for money and within three months I have Rs 50-60 lakhs in my pocket. It was all about saving at that time,” the upcoming superstar concluded.