Hardik Pandya model 2.0, reliable all-rounder and astute captain

“Dear Mr. Player, Aaj main kar ke aai. No, not s*x, but a lesson on respect, gender sensitivity and s*xism, which is available to you for free. To help you understand that there is nothing ‘cool’ about your rampant misogyny. To help you realise that being a man has nothing to do with crass behavior.”

It’s been greater than three years, greater than 1000 days. Yet, Priya Malik’s hard-hitting phrases reverberate. That’s how highly effective her phrases have been. 2019. It was a 12 months when one couldn’t have been blamed for considering that Hardik Pandya’s profession was executed and dusted.

America’s Billy Graham as soon as mentioned, “When wealth is lost, nothing is lost; when health is lost, something is lost; when character is lost, all is lost”

Leave alone well being, wealth and cricket, Pandya fought to revive his already-shattered character. Character blobbed with sprinkles of misogyny and sexism. He was within the shambles and even when he had made a comeback on the sphere, it will have been an arduous process for him to realize again his misplaced respect.

It was a chat-show, hosted by certainly one of India’s famend producers, who as soon as promoted the likes of Shah Rukh Khan. The episode created an argument to such an extent that it needed to be faraway from OTT platform Hotstar. But was it attainable to delete it from the recollections of people that questioned Pandya for his feedback, which he appeared to have delivered with a number of ease?

THE TURNAROUND

Hardik Pandya. Courtesy: PTI

Come 2022, issues might not be the identical anymore, albeit the dreadful incident in 2019 hasn’t utterly been erased from the recollections. Back in 2019, had somebody informed that Hardik Pandya would lead an Indian Premier League (IPL) workforce to glory, folks would have suggested them to take up stand-up comedy as a career. The gravity of the state of affairs was such.

In 2022, Pandya is being deemed as one of many prospects to steer Team India sooner or later. On Sunday, May 29, he captained Gujarat Titans (GT) to victory of their maiden IPL season. Yes, you heard that proper! Pandya can be a accountable father of a kid with a lifeless drop beautiful spouse from Serbia.

If somebody informed you it’s robust to show round your fortunes, I’m undecided if there’s a extra evident instance amongst Indian cricketers. From fielding and bowling adjustments to bagging the Player of the Match award within the closing in opposition to Rajasthan Royals (RR), who have been hell bent on successful and giving Late Shane Warne a tribute, the Pandya of 2022 could barely have the ability to recognise the Pandya from 2019.

SIMILAR TO STOKES

‘If there’s a will, there’s a method’, they mentioned There’s positively! In 2017, England all-rounder Ben Stokes discovered himself in all kinds of hassle after he acquired tangled within the Bristol bar controversy. He didn’t participate within the 2017-18 Ashes, after which he missed one of many residence Tests in opposition to India in 2018 as he needed to attend a listening to.

In July 2019, Stokes was seen on his knees, not as a result of his profession was within the doldrums. He was on the verge of taking England to their maiden World Cup title. Not solely did he get the Man of the Match award within the closing at Lord’s, however he additionally grew to become his nation’s main run-scorer with 5 half-centuries. Not to overlook the seven wickets that he picked up.

Two months later, Stokes took the Three Lions to victory from the jaws of defeat within the Headingley Test in opposition to Australia. Back in April 2022, Stokes was named because the skipper of the England nationwide workforce, changing Joe Root. Soon after, he scored the quickest century for Durham off 64 balls in first-class cricket. It’s truthful to say that the Stokes of 2022 will discover it arduous to recognise the Stokes of 2017.

THE WAY FORWARD

Hardik Pandya (left). Courtesy: PTI

Even as his profession has just about been much like that of Stokes, Pandya has additionally confronted damage considerations. He has undergone surgical procedure because of which he discovered it robust to bowl for fairly a while. But it’s his bowling that earned him the POTM award within the closing on the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Pandya didn’t bowl a single over for the Mumbai Indians (MI) in 2021 and didn’t get a wicket within the T20 World Cup 2021 with an economic system price in extra of 10. It was the identical Pandya, who dismissed Orange Cap holder, Jos Buttler, RR skipper Sanju Samson and the in-form Shimron Hetmyer. Who says fairy-tales don’t exist? It exists, it does, provided that one is able to put within the arduous yards and endure ache, generally insufferable.

Pandya wore a broad smile after he lifted the IPL trophy in Ahmedabad. The smile of aid, the smile of with the ability to rise like a phoenix from the ashes, the smile of with the ability to considerably take away the blobs of misogyny and se*ism from his character.

Yes, on Sunday, Pandya ‘karke aaya’, no surprise ‘woh karke aaya’, however MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli aur Rohit Sharma ko harake IPL jeetke aaya. He received the celebrated trophy after only a few folks even gave him and the Titans an opportunity to even qualify for the playoffs. Period!