‘Been through so much and still remained calm’: Ishan Kishan hugs and kisses Hardik Pandya to congratulate on T20 WC win | WATCH

The last few days have been a dream sequence for all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Winning the World Cup for India and receiving a hero’s welcome on his return home was something he experienced for the first time in his international career. But the phase leading up to the showpiece in the West, especially the last six months, has been equally dramatic for him.

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A freak ankle injury in last year’s ODI World Cup against Bangladesh ruled him out of the entire tournament. After extensive rehabilitation at the National Cricket Academy (NCA), he returned to action in the IPL 2024, but his new role as Mumbai Indians captain did not go down well with fans. He was booed in stadiums and criticized on social media, but kept a smile on his face throughout.

Pandya turned the tide with his exemplary performance in the recently concluded World Cup, helping India win the trophy after 17 years. Impressed by his contribution to India’s glory, the fans in Mumbai were overwhelmed and chanted his name in Wankhede during the team’s felicitation ceremony on Thursday evening.

After the festivities were over, Pandya got a surprise visit from wicketkeeper-batter Ishan Kishan. He burst into his hotel room, hugged the all-rounder and congratulated him for making the country proud.

Kishan shared the video of the meeting on his Instagram profile with a touching caption, which read:

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“You have been through so much in the past few months but you remained calm and focused. And today bhaiya you got the result of your hard work, honesty and sincerity. There is so much more I want to say and feel but words fall short. You are a champion and you are rare,” Kishan wrote.

In the final, Hardik took the game-changing wicket of Heinrich Klaasen and dismissed David Miller in the last over, defending 16 runs to secure a seven-run win over South Africa in Bridgetown. He amassed 144 runs at a strike rate of 151.57 in six innings and took 11 wickets during the tournament.