Hardik Pandya led Gujarat Titans won the 2022 season of Indian Premier League. Gujarat won the title in their first appearance itself. It’s a massive achievement for the whole team. Hardik Pandya impressed everyone with his batting, bowling and leadership skills in IPL 2022.
However the journey for Hardik was never an easy one. He was out of the Indian team for five months. He was struggling with fitness issues. Earlier too Hardik faced a tough time when he was banned after “Koffee with Karan controversy”. Recently Hardik’s childhood coach Jitender told how Hardik overcame these difficulties.
Jitender in an interview with Indian Express said that Hardik was fully focused on his cricket after the ban.“Tension nahi lena hai (Don’t take tension). You will get back to playing for India very soon. Jo ho gaya, woh ho gaya (what’s done is done), no use worrying about it. Come tomorrow to Reliance stadium. Now, smile.”, said Jitender to Hardik to boost his confidence.
Hardik Pandya childhood coach said “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 himself, usko ehsaas hua (he realised) that he is a sportsman and this is what he is born to do. Not chat shows.”
“His Father would have been so proud today”- Hardik Pandya’s Coach
Hardik Pandya also assured his coach that he won’t repeat the past mistakes again. Jitender revealed that Hardik kept his words and didn’t disappoint. “Coach, you will not hear any negative things about me after this. He has held that word, his father would have been so proud today.”, Jitender said in chat with Indian express.
Hardik was the biggest reason why Gujarat won IPL 2022. He contributed immensely in all three departments along with captaincy. Hardik Pandya ended his IPL 2022 campaign with 487 runs with bat at a good average of 44.3 and strike rate of 132. Pandya also picked 8 crucial wickets in this IPL which also included his magical spell in the final.
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