Emotional Hardik Pandya breaks down after T20 WC win against South Africa, says ‘I kept quiet for 6 months’

Hardik Pandya has endured some tough times in the last six months while dealing with injuries, rumours, booing, setbacks and poor form, but as someone who always decides against staying down, he weathered those storms and stood tall in the end as a hero.

Pandya bowled the last over against South Africa with 16 needed off six balls. With David Miller at the crease, the Proteas were in the chase for their maiden T20 World Cup title; however, a stunning catch by Suryakumar Yadav changed the equation as Miller got out, and India won the game five balls later. Pandya became the hero andbroke down while celebrating Team India's second T20 World Cup win.

Meanwhile, since returning from an ankle injury earlier in March, Pandya replaced Rohit Sharma as the new captain of Mumbai Indians, with countless MI fans tearing into him with regular boos throughout the tournament. That affected him so much that Pandya lost confidence heading into the showpiece event in the Americas, let alone thinking about performing with bat and ball.

However, the game changed during the 20-team tournament when Pandya, now in an India jersey, began from where he had left (before getting injured during the 50-over World Cup in October last year). His exploits in each passing game began to leave a larger impact, and by the time the knockouts came, he was on the top of his prowess.

Despite leaking runs earlier in the finale, Pandya returned to pick the biggest wicket of Heinrich Klaasen (on 51) and pulled the game back for India. For keeping his composure in the final over and winning the game for India, Pandya deserves all the applause.

But, his reaction to winning the T20 WC, and what this meant to him, knowing how he controlled himself in the past six months, broke the internet.

“It means a lot. Very emotional, we'd been working very hard, and something was not clicking. But today we got what the whole nation wanted. More special for me; for how my last six months were, I haven't spoken a word, things have been unfair," Pandya said in a chat with Star Sports.

“I knew that if I kept working hard, I could shine and do what I could do. Getting an opportunity like this makes it more special. We always believed it was just about executing our plans and staying calm and letting the pressure come to them," Pandya said in a post-match presentation.

"I believe in grace. A lot was said by people who don't know even know me one per cent as a person. People have spoken, no issues, but I have always believed in life that you never respond with words, circumstances can respond,” Pandya responded.

Watch Video here –

Meanwhile, Pandya, alongside all seniors, is rested for the Zimbabwe T20Is, with Shubman Gill to lead a new squad for the five T20Is starting July 6.

(With inputs from agencies)