After winning his first IPL trophy as a skipper, Hardik Pandya wants to win the World Cup for the Indian team. This was the fifth IPL title for Hardik, with the previous four coming while playing for his former team Mumbai Indians. India had last won a marquee ICC event back in 2013 when they defeated England in the Champions Trophy.
Since then, India has been a consistent unit but they have failed to go all the way in major events. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya was at his best in the Tata IPL 2022 while leading Gujarat Titans.
Pandya returned with impressive figures of 3-17 in his quota of four overs in the all-important final against Rajasthan Royals. The right-arm pacer went to take pivotal wickets of Jos Buttler, Sanju Samson, and Shimron Hetmyer and made great use of the conditions.
Pandya scored a total of 487 runs in 15 matches at an impressive average of 44.27 and scored his runs at a strike rate of 131.27 in Tata IPL 2022 and thus played a huge role in the success of his team.
Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya last played for the national team back in T20 World Cup in 2021. He was then out of action for a long time due to injury and made a return in the IPL. Pandya said the team’s success is more important to him than individual performance.
“Absolutely to win the World Cup for India no matter what happens,” Hardik said. “I am gonna give it everything I have. Always been the kind of guy to put the team first. For me the goal will be simple: to make sure my team gets it the most.
“Playing for India has always been kind of [a] dream come true no matter how many games I have played. It has always been a pleasure for me to represent the country. The kind of love and support I have got is only from the Indian team point of view. Long term, short term, I want to win the World Cup no matter what happens,” he added.
Pandya added it is a special win for him as a leader of the team. The all-rounder has played five IPL finals so far and he has won all of them.
“Obviously this will be a little special because I have won it as a captain,” Hardik said before adding, “the four that I have won before this are equally special too.
“Winning IPL is always special. I consider myself very lucky that I have played five finals, and have lifted the trophy five times. Obviously, this will leave a legacy because we are a new franchise, playing for the first time, and we are champions in the first season. But the four that I have won before this were equally special.”
This performance would have certainly added a shot in the arm to Hardik Pandya as he was returning from injury. Pandya will now be seen in the five-match series against South Africa, starting 9 June in Delhi.
