“He never lost his cool”: Ishan Kishan reveals how Hardik Pandya dealt with booing

Prior to the T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya was brutally targeted by fans due to his poor form in IPL 2024, and also over the fact that he replaced Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians (MI). Under Hardik’s leadership, MI finished the season bottom of the points table.

Some fans even questioned Hardik’s inclusion in the Indian team for the T20 World Cup. However, Hardik was one of India’s match-winners in the final and was influential for them throughout the tournament. His great performances saw a huge change in behaviour of fans towards him.

Now, his teammate in the Mumbai Indians, Ishan Kishan has recalled what Hardik told him when fans were going after him.

“I had a gut feeling that he (Hardik) was saving it all for the World Cup. I will never forget his words: Once I start performing, those who are abusing me will be clapping for me. This is what he told me when I was also going through a really tough time. He said ‘let people talk, we will do our best and give 100 percent to the game we love’,” Kishan told the Indian Express.

“It is difficult to explain in words the past six months he has had, as there were all kinds of things said and written about him. But he never lost his cool. I was with him during most of that time be it training with him in Vadodara or during the IPL and I never heard him cribbing. He was calm about it, took it in a very sporting manner, and just focused on the game,” he added.

The post “He never lost his cool”: Ishan Kishan reveals how Hardik Pandya dealt with booing appeared first on Cricket Country.