'For me, it has always been about never leaving the battlefield' - Hardik Pandya on nightmarish IPL 2024

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya suffered one of the toughest phases of his career during the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL) season. Taking over the Mumbai Indians (MI) captaincy from Rohit Sharma proved to be a controversial decision, leading to plenty of backlash from fans.

To make matters worse, MI finished at the bottom of the table, and Pandya was often the target of criticism. However, in the months that followed, his fortunes changed dramatically. He played a crucial role in India's title win at the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy 2025, earning the love and respect of fans.

Pandya’s return to the Mumbai-based franchise ahead of IPL 2024 was expected to be a celebratory homecoming, but it quickly turned into a nightmare. Fans were angry over the decision to replace Rohit, and Hardik was at the receiving end of all the criticism. The all-rounder was booed wherever he played throughout the tournament. Pandya scored just 216 runs and took 11 wickets, failing to make the impact expected of him. The 31-year-old finally broke his silence about the tough times in the previous season.

"Having played in the IPL for almost 11 years now, each season brings new energy and fresh positivity. The 2024 season was undoubtedly challenging for us as a group, but it also provided invaluable lessons. We analyzed those learnings and applied them while building our team for 2025. This time, we have assembled an experienced squad of players who have played a lot of cricket at the highest level. That in itself is exciting. The key now is to come together as a unit and execute our plans efficiently. If we do that, we will have some very good days ahead," he told exclusively on Superstars on JioHotstar.

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Cricket would always be my greatest ally: Hardik Pandya

However, his career saw a stunning turnaround just months after the IPL debacle. He played an important role in India's victorious T20 World Cup campaign in Barbados, with his match-winning performance in the final against South Africa standing out. 

It was he who bowled the final over, sealing the title for the Men in Blue, and he received cheers from the same fans who had once booed him. Upon his arrival in Mumbai, he was given immense love and cheer. His brilliance continued in 2025, with another title-winning campaign in the Champions Trophy. Pandya mentioned that for him, it was a battlefield that he would never leave.

"For me, it has always been about never leaving the battlefield. There have been phases in my career where my focus wasn’t necessarily on winning but on surviving and holding my ground. I realized that no matter what was happening around me, cricket would always be my greatest ally—it was my way forward. I kept pushing through, and when all the hard work finally paid off, it was beyond anything I could have scripted.

"The six-month phase where we won the World Cup, and then the kind of love and support I received upon returning—it was a complete 360-degree turnaround for me. Throughout that time, I knew that if I remained persistent, honest with my work, and gave my absolute best, I would come out stronger. I didn’t know exactly when that would happen, but as they say, destiny had its plan, and in my case, everything changed within two and a half months," he added.