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.

During the T20 World Cup 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked Virat Kohli how his family felt when he was struggling to score runs in the USA and the West Indies. PM Modi mentioned that the support from those around him was crucial for his match winning performance in the final against South Africa.

PM Modi was candid and engaging as he spoke with the T20 World Cup winning Indian team during a breakfast he hosted in New Delhi on Thursday. He made jokes and detailed observations about India’s campaign in the USA and the West Indies, showing his knowledge of the game and praising Rohit Sharma’s team for their victory.

PM Modi spoke with each player during the breakfast. When he talked to Virat Kohli, he asked about his inconsistent form during the T20 World Cup and pointed out that Kohli scored more runs in the final than in the previous seven matches combined.

“Virat, tell me, the battle this time was full of ups and downs,” PM Modi said.

Virat Kohli reflected on his challenging journey during the T20 World Cup, admitting he felt he wasn’t performing to his potential. He credited the support from the team, especially coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma, for helping him deliver the match-winning performance in the final.

“Thank you for inviting us here. I will always remember this day. I couldn’t contribute as much as I wanted. I told Rahul Dravid that I felt I wasn’t doing justice to myself or the team. He reassured me that he believed I would deliver when it mattered,” Kohli said.

Kohli’s initial doubts transformed into confidence

“I also told Rohit Sharma, when we walked out to bat in the final, that I wasn’t confident. But after the first delivery, I told him, ‘What is this game? One day, you feel like you can’t score a run, and the next, everything clicks.’

“When wickets started falling, I wanted to give my all to the team. I was focused and in the zone. I realized that whatever is meant to happen will happen. This victory was destined for us.

“Even towards the end, when the game became tense, we lived every ball. At one point, hope was fading. But when Hardik Pandya took a wicket, everything changed, and we fought back with every delivery,” he added.

“Everyone feels it. You had scored 75 runs in total before the final, and 76 in the final. There’s a reward in having everyone’s support. It becomes a driving force,” PM Modi said, keeping the conversation light. He also asked Virat Kohli how his family reacted when he was struggling to score runs before the big final.