Hardik Pandya: MS Dhoni was there for me when I needed him the most

Hardik Pandya

India all-rounder Hardik Pandya faced tough times in his career in 2019 following his appearance on a TV show Koffee with Karan which led to a wide media outburst.

Pandya made some controversial remarks on the show which went viral on social media, and brought negative reactions from the public, leading to the cricketer being suspended by the BCCI, along with teammate KL Rahul.

He missed a major portion of tours of Australia and New Zealand due to the suspension. In an interview with ESPNCricinfo, the all-rounder recalled the time he heard about his suspension.

Team India mentor MS Dhoni with the support staff. Pic/BCCI

The ‘bad boy' image

"When I heard I was going to get suspended, a lot of cricketers who knew me personally, who knew what kind of an individual I am, they went out and spoke about it, which is fine. They thought I was done. I heard lots of people saying, ‘Hardik's done, he won't be able to cope with this.' Because I was the bad boy of Indian cricket at that time," he was quoted as saying.

Pandya, 28, further opined that there were times he used to cry a lot while practising at Bangalore. He also said that he failed to concentrate on the sport properly and was not in the right zone.

"At the Chinnaswamy (Bangalore), while practising, I was missing the ball by this much [shows a wide gap]. Because when this is not right [points to head] and when you question yourself, things just go wrong. That day I cried during training because there was a lot of emotion. Because of how I was portrayed [after the talk-show incident], I was never that individual. I was not able to concentrate on my sport because there was a lot of expectation from myself, leave anyone else," he added.

Pandya has lavished praise on MS Dhoni while sharing his close relationship with the former captain and the current mentor of the national team.

Pandya explained how and when Dhoni provided him the kind of support which was required at certain stages during his career.

"He knows what kind of an individual I am. He knows me quite deep. I am very close to him. He is the only person who can make me calm. When all this happened, he knew that I needed support. I just needed a shoulder, which he provided multiple times," Pandya said.

That brotherly feeling

"I never saw him as MS Dhoni the greatest. For me, Mahi is my brother. I respect and admire the fact that he was there when I needed him the most," he added.
This would be India's first World Cup campaign since Dhoni retired in 2020 and the side will open its campaign against Pakistan on October 24 here. "The biggest so far, I will say, because this time I don't have MS Dhoni. Everything is on my shoulders - I like to think that way because it gives me an added
challenge."

Also Read: Hardik Pandya's son Agastya gives him a surprise visit during interview

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