Gujarat Titans (GT) skipper Hardik Pandya has set new goals after winning the elusive Indian Premier League (IPL) title in their maiden appearance. The Titans defeated Rajasthan Royals (RR) by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
The ace all-rounder has had a difficult time leading up to the tournament. Battling lean patches, injuries and snubs from the national side, the 28-year-old has fought his way back to the top and into the Indian team.
After a remarkable outing in IPL 2022, Hardik Pandya has his eyes set on the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia this coming October-November. Addressing the press after the dream end to the IPL campaign, the 28-year-old all-rounder said:
“It’s absolutely to win the World Cup for India, no matter what happens. I’m going to give everything what I have. I have always been that kind of a guy to put the team first. So for me, the goal will be simple to make sure that my team gets it most. And playing for India has always been kind of a dream come true, no matter how many games I have played.
He added:
“It has been always a pleasure for me to represent the country and the kind of love and support I have got, it’s mainly from the Indian team point of view. So long term, short term, one goal is there – I want to win the World Cup, no matter what happens.”
Hardik Pandya truly led Gujarat Titans (GT) from the front, scoring 487 runs at a healthy average of 44.27 and scalping eight wickets at an economy of 7.27 runs per over.
The family has always been my strong pillar – Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya credited his family – especially his wife – for his success, saying he gets buoyed by the securing knowledge that his dear ones have always got his back come what may.
“She’s someone who’s very emotional and she gets very happy when she sees me doing well. She has seen me go through a lot of things, she has seen me putting in hard yards no matter what happens,” the all-rounder said.
“I have worked genuinely hard and that is something I don’t speak about, but she knows exactly how much goes behind the scenes. And my family has been always my strong pillar. My brother Krunal, my sister-in-law Pankhuri, my other brother Vaibhav, and a lot of people who have been a part of my journey. My wife, my son, they have been fantastic to make sure that I stay in the best frame of mind,” Hardik Pandya concluded.
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