Celebrating India's T20 World Cup title triumph, Ishan Kishan met up with Hardik Pandya on Friday, July 5, to personally congratulate him on his crucial role in the team's victory. Pandya shone throughout the tournament, contributing significantly with both bat and ball. His performance was instrumental in ending India's long wait for an ICC trophy. The team hadn't lifted the T20 World Cup since 2007 and their last ICC title came in 2013. They finally broke the drought with a thrilling 7-run win over South Africa in the final of the recently concluded 2024 edition. While chasing India's 177 runs, South Africa initially looked strong, reaching 151/4 after 16 overs. However, India managed to pull off a comeback and secure the championship.
Hardik Pandya's brilliance with the ball proved to be the turning point for India in the final. He dismissed the in-form Heinrich Klaasen for 52 on the very first ball of the 17th over, effectively halting South Africa's momentum. His heroics continued in the final over, where he removed the dangerous David Miller with the first delivery. Pandya then held his nerve to defend 15 runs, restricting South Africa to 169/8 and securing a thrilling victory for India. Throughout the tournament, Pandya displayed his all-round talent, scoring 144 runs at an average of 48 and taking 11 wickets at an impressive average of 17.36.
Ishan Kishan's surprise visit to Hardik Pandya
Celebrating his teammate's success, Ishan Kishan surprised Hardik Pandya with a visit on July 5th. Kishan, a talented left-handed batsman himself, took to Instagram to share a heartwarming video of the encounter. The video captured Kishan congratulating Pandya on his phenomenal performance in the recently concluded World Cup. Their camaraderie shone through as they shared a warm hug, followed by a playful kiss from Kishan. The caption accompanying the video offered a glimpse into Pandya's mental resilience. Kishan acknowledged the negativity Pandya faced as the new captain of the Mumbai Indians during the IPL. Despite the initial fan backlash over Rohit Sharma's replacement, Pandya remained composed and focused on his game. This mental strength undoubtedly played a key role in his stellar performance at the World Cup.
"You faced so many things these past few months yet you stayed calm and focused. And today bhaiya you got the result of your hard-work, honesty and sincerity. There’s so much more i feel and want to say but words will fall short. You are a champion and you are rare ♥️💪🏼," Kishan wrote in his Instagram post.
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