Subhechcha Ganguly 
If there’s someone who was India’s trump card during the Champions Trophy in Dubai/Pakistan earlier in the month, it was Hardik Pandya and his ability to make an impact through his batting, bowling and fielding.
The past year or so has been a major troll moment for this swashbuckling all-rounder who was in the news for all the wrong reasons. His transfer from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians was considered worthy of labelling him a traitor and in each stadium that he played in, he was booed tremendously. What pained the hearts of cricket fans was that millions of people took his transfer to heart and mocked him for prioritizing fat pay cheques over cricket performances.
One must respect the mental strength that Hardik had to bounce out of this situation and let his performance do the talking. He took up any role that the team management gave him, opening the bowling, batting at No.6, being the designated tonker in the team and even finishing matches in the process.
In the recently concluded Champions Trophy, his bowling exploits came to the fore, along with his precision-like fielding and ability to take team India home during crunch moments. Even at the business end of the tournament, he took the team out of precarious situations and brought them at sniffing distance to victory.
Probably, Hardik’s flashy lifestyle and Instagram antics don’t present himself as a committed white-ball cricketer, however, let’s not take anything away from him for his performances during the T20 World Cup in West Indies and the Champions Trophy in Dubai!
Gautam Gambhir and the think tanks within the Indian Cricket Team must be given credit for using Hardik well during the entire tournament and making him feel like an integral part of the team.
It’s been a commendable performance by Hardik during the entire tournament, and he’s really etching his name in the record books as an integral member of championship-winning teams.
Let’s give Hardik the respect he deserves and support him as Team India continues its pursuit to win more silverware in the years ahead!
Thanks for being an amazing player and giving your everything to Team India, Hardik! Let’s continue to be a Champion team and leave a long-lasting legacy!
