Hardik Pandya was the pick of the Indian batsmen from the 1st One Day International that India won by 26 runs against Australia. Hardik Pandya came to bat when the team was reeling at 87 for 5 and desperately needed a steady partnership. That is when Hardik, along with MS Dhoni forged a partnership in excess of 100 runs to steer India to a respectable total. India finally ended up with a handsome total of 281, which proved to be too much for the visitors. In the process, Pandya scored a 66-ball 83. His stunning knock was studded with 5 fours and 5 sixes including the over when he hit Adam Zampa’s deliveries for a four and 3 sixes on the four consecutive deliveries.
Hardik Pandya has had a meteoric rise since he has been selected in the national cricket team. He showed his hitting prowess in the ICC Champions Trophy finals, where India ended up losing. With Virat Kohli showing immense faith in the Mumbai Indians boy, it seems to be helping the youngster grow. But what caught the fans’ notice was the fact that Hardik was batting with his Mumbai Indians gloves. Surprised, everyone was curious to know the reason why he was doing so. It seems the reason is finally out.
Well, Pandya had once said how playing for Mumbai Indians changed his life and perhaps playing in the franchise’s gloves is his way to pay tribute to the team.
Pandya wearing @mipaltan gloves. Dhoni back in Chepauk. Both playing for @BCCI. Unity in diversity. @IPL for the win. _#INDvAUS
— Chennai Super Kings (@ChennaiIPL) September 17, 2017
“At Mumbai Indians, they just wanted me to enjoy my game and I was just a young kid expressing himself, and who eventually got success. I was getting used to the fame. No one knew who Hardik Pandya was before 2015 IPL. I got picked for Rs 10 lakh. If people knew me I would have got a lot more money, not that it’s only about the money. I was from a struggling family. Well, we had a good family and then things changed, father’s health and all had a grave effect. That helped us. Where we are standing now is because of that situation. It is because how we coped with that,” Pandya had said in an interview to Indian Express.
