Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya is one of the youngsters in the current Indian team who was once led by the legendary skipper MS Dhoni. In the previous edition of T20 World Cup, Dhoni guided Pandya in the last over of the must-win clash against Bangladesh where he took two wickets in defended two runs in the last three deliveries. Hardik enjoys good relation with Dhoni off-the-field as well. In a recent interaction, the all-rounder revealed one such incident when Ranchi airport staff spoiled his surprise visit to Dhoni on his birthday last year. Hardik with his brother Krunal Pandya landed at Ranchi airport last year to pay a special visit to the veteran on his birthday. But the surprise only lasted only a few minutes as Dhoni came to know about their landing from the airport staff.
‘Chal theek hai aaja’
“No! Because [someone from the airport staff] called him, saying Hardik and Krunal are coming. So my surprise got spoiled. Before I took off, he is like: “Are you coming here?” Hardik told ESPNCricinfo.
“How did you know?” He said: “These charter people told me you’re coming. Chal, theek hai, aaja [All right, come over],”
“I go there and find him gardening. I asked how his body was and he said his knee hurt a little. I asked why. He says, “I repaired about 50 bikes, and I needed to kneel and squat for it. Now I do it standing up,” the 28-year-old all-rounder added.
Mahi bhai is a darling
Hardik also highlighted on his special bond with captain cool as he used to calls him with terms like “darling” and “life coach”.
“Mahi Bhai is a darling. There are a lot of things I am allowed [with him], which no one else is. We connect well. Maybe he likes the fact that I never treat him like MS Dhoni. And he understands where I come from. He is like, Okay, yeh kar raha hai toh kuch soch ke kar raha hai [If Hardik is doing something, it’s only after he has considered it] type,” Hardik explained.
