Indian vice-captain Hardik Pandya shared that he’s been through a tough few months during a recent chat with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at his home in New Delhi last Thursday.

During the IPL 2024 season, Pandya faced criticism from Mumbai Indians (MI) fans. He took over as captain from Rohit Sharma, but the team struggled, finishing last with only four wins in 14 matches.

However, Pandya bounced back during the T20 World Cup, scoring 144 runs at a strike rate of 150 and taking 11 wickets. His standout performance included key dismissals in the final against South Africa.

Hardik Pandya opens up about his personal and professional struggles

“Last 6 months have been very entertaining for me, there have been a lot of ups and downs and the public booed me. A lot of things happened and I always felt that if I give any answer, it would be through sports… So I believed that I would stay strong, will work hard” Pandya shared with Modi and the team during their discussion.

Following the World Cup, Pandya achieved the top spot in the ICC all-rounder rankings, a first for an Indian player. With Rohit Sharma stepping down from T20Is, Pandya is now a leading contender for the role of India’s new T20 captain.