'He hadn’t slept whole night' - Hardik Pandya's childhood coach recalls 'Koffee With Karan' controversy

Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans to the IPL title in their very first season itself after beating Rajasthan Royals in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday (May 29). The former Mumbai Indians maverick was handed the responsibility of leading the newly assembled franchise. While not many people gave his side many chances, Hardik backed his players to come good even in tough situations.

After the memorable win in the final, Pandya’s childhood coach revealed the incidents in the aftermath of the 2019 talk show controversy. Hardik, alongside KL Rahul, landed himself in trouble after his controversial remarks in one of the episodes of the ‘Koffee With Karan’ famed talk show. The stir caused by his ‘sexist’ remarks saw the BCCI suspending him from the ODI series in Australia and sending him back along with KL Rahul.

Jitender Singh, Pandya’s childhood coach, revealed that the all-rounder was frustrated in the aftermath of his suspension from the Indian team. “He hadn’t slept the whole night, na?” the coach asked another person in the room. “Tension nahin lena hai (Don’t take tension). You will get back to playing for India very soon. Jo ho gaya, voh ho gaya (what’s done is done), no use worrying about it. Come tomorrow to Reliance stadium. Now, smile,” Jitender told The Indian Express.

“I had booked a badminton court for us to play. Just to get the competitive juices and the joy of sport back in him. I wanted him to sweat out. It freed him, usko ehsaas hua (he realized) that he is a sportsman and this is what he is born to do. Not chat shows,” Singh added.

Jitender Singh recalls Hardik Pandya’s promise

Meanwhile, Hardik capped off his exceptional season for Gujarat Titans with a Player of the Match display in the IPL 2022 final. The all-rounder left RR’s innings in tatters after scalping their star batting trio of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer. Pandya’s contribution with the ball wasn’t the end of his heroics as the right-hander went on to score 34 runs to guide his side to their maiden title.

His captaincy skills have come to the fore this year, and the added responsibility seems to have taken his game to another level. Pandya has put the controversy of 2019 behind him and has set his sights on international glory with the Indian side. Meanwhile, his coach also revealed Pandya’s promise after the 2019 incident.

“Coach, you will not hear any negative thing about me after this” Jitender recalled Hardik’s words. “He has held that word, his father would have been so proud today,” Jitender added.