Hardik Pandya has become synonymous with aggressive seam bowling and explosive batting, known especially for his ability to strike sixes from the very first ball. Representing Baroda in domestic cricket, Hardik gained attention in the 2015 IPL when he scored a stunning 31-ball 61 for Mumbai Indians against Kolkata Knight Riders.
This performance solidified his role in Mumbai’s squad, where he contributed to four IPL titles. By the time the 2022 T20 World Cup concluded, his leadership abilities had earned him recognition as a potential future captain of the Indian national team. His success with the Gujarat Titans in their debut season further elevated his standing.
Profile
Full Name: Hardik Himanshu Pandya
Date of Birth: October 11, 1993
Birthplace: Choryasi, Gujarat
Age: 31 years
Batting Style: Right-hand bat
Bowling Style: Right-arm medium-fast
Playing Role: Allrounder
Family Connection:
- Brother: Krunal Himanshu Pandya (KH Pandya)
Teams Played For:
- India
- Mumbai Indians
- Baroda
- Gujarat Titans
- India A
- India B
- Indian Board President’s XI
Career
Hardik’s international journey began in 2016 when he made his debut on a limited-overs tour to Australia. His bowling prowess on the seam-friendly pitches of Bangladesh during the Asia Cup that same year assured him a place in India’s T20 World Cup squad. While primarily known for his explosive batting, Hardik also played a crucial role as a bowler, most notably defending two runs in the final over against Bangladesh, helping India secure a narrow one-run win.
Despite moments of brilliance, Hardik’s career hasn’t been without challenges. A serious back injury in 2018 has intermittently hindered his bowling ability. Additionally, his career faced a brief setback in 2019 due to controversial remarks made on a talk show, leading to reprimands from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
As a senior player, Hardik continued to excel, earning praise for his leadership skills and unorthodox thinking. In 2022, following India’s victory over Pakistan in the T20 World Cup, he expressed that he wouldn’t have minded a loss due to the enjoyment of the game.
His positive attitude was similarly evident after the 2023 IPL final, where he commended MS Dhoni, whose Chennai Super Kings triumphed over Hardik’s Gujarat Titans. In the 2023 IPL season, Hardik’s all-round abilities shone again, with 346 runs and 9 wickets, leading his team to a second consecutive final.
IPL Journey:
Hardik Pandya’s IPL journey has been remarkable, starting with Mumbai Indians in 2015, where he developed into one of the world’s top all-rounders. Over seven seasons with Mumbai, he played a key role in their title-winning campaigns in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020. After injury-related struggles with his bowling, Hardik was released by Mumbai following the 2021 season.
In 2022, Hardik was signed by the newly formed Gujarat Titans and appointed as captain, despite having no prior experience in leading a team. In an astonishing debut season, he led Gujarat to their first-ever IPL title and followed it up with a second final appearance in 2023. After two successful seasons with Gujarat, Hardik was traded back to Mumbai Indians ahead of the 2024 season, taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma.
One of Hardik’s best seasons came in IPL 2019, where he amassed 402 runs at an impressive strike rate of 191.41 and took 14 wickets. His contribution to Gujarat Titans‘ maiden IPL title win in 2022 included being the highest run-scorer for the team, tallying 487 runs.
Career Highlights:
Batting Stats:
- Tests: 11 matches, 532 runs, 1 century
- ODIs: 86 matches, 1769 runs
- T20Is: 104 matches, 1594 runs
- IPL: 137 matches, 2525 runs
Bowling Stats:
- Tests: 17 wickets, Best: 5/28
- ODIs: 84 wickets, Best: 4/24
- T20Is: 87 wickets, Best: 4/16
- IPL: 64 wickets, Best: 3/17
Records and Achievements:
- Outstanding Bowling: 3rd best in T20s (3/3)
- Most wickets caught by a wicketkeeper in ODIs: 3rd place (17 wickets)
Recent Performances:
- October 9, 2024: Scored 32 runs in a T20I against Bangladesh
- October 6, 2024: Scored 39* and took 1/26 against Bangladesh
Leadership and Legacy:
Hardik Pandya has matured into one of India’s most dependable all-rounders and captains, known for his trust in teammates and his out-of-the-box thinking. His contributions, both as a player and leader, continue to make a significant impact on Indian cricket across all formats.