Hardik Pandya — IPL Star, More About Him!

Listen to this article

Hardik Pandya is a famous Indian all-rounder cricketer. The 30-year-old has been playing in the IPL since 2015. He played his first 6 seasons for Mumbai Indians. He established himself highly within MI and quickly rose to the status of a highly paid-star. Already a famous and experienced cricketer, Pandya moved to Gujarat Titans, where he served as captain. At the end of 2023, Pandya was exchanged back to his native MI.

Also, Pandya has represented India in all 3 formats. He is considered one of the best all-rounders not only in India but also in world cricket.

Hardik Pandya Biography

Born on October 11, 1993, in Surat, Gujarat, Hardik Himanshu Pandya swiftly rose from humble beginnings to become a prominent figure in international cricket. A versatile all-rounder, Pandya is renowned for his dynamic contributions as a right-handed batsman and right-arm fast bowler. Debuting in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with the Mumbai Indians in 2015, he played a pivotal role in their numerous title triumphs, showcasing his ability to finish matches with explosive batting and provide crucial breakthroughs with the ball. Nicknamed “Hairy,” Pandya’s aggressive playing style and adaptability across formats have made him a mainstay in the Indian cricket team, where he has represented the country in both Test and limited-overs cricket.

Off the field, Hardik Pandya’s journey is marked by personal milestones, including his marriage to Serbian actress and model Natasa Stankovic, and the birth of their son, Agastya. While his cricketing career has been laden with notable achievements and impactful performances, Pandya’s resilience and charisma shine through, embodying the essence of a modern-day cricketing icon.

Hardik Pandya Profile

Full Name	Hardik Himanshu Pandya
Born	11 October 1993
City	Choryasi, Surat, Gujarat, India
Nickname
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
IPL Teams	Mumbai Indians (2015-2021, 2024), Gujarat Titans (2022-2023)
Career Debuts	Domestic Debut in 2013IPL Debut in 2015ODI Debut 16 October 2016T20I Debut 26 January 2016, at age 22Test Debut 26 July 2017
Role	All-rounder
Batting	Right-handed
Bowling	Right-arm medium-fast
Relationships	married since 2020, have a daughter (born in 2020)

Hardik Pandya Cricket Career

Hardik Pandya’s cricketing journey took off in Surat, Gujarat, where he initially honed his skills before joining the Kiran More International Cricket Academy in Baroda. His professional debut for Baroda in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the 2013–14 season marked a pivotal moment. In January 2016, Pandya showcased his explosive batting prowess by slamming eight sixes during an unbeaten 86-run innings against Vidarbha, leading Baroda to victory in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

The year 2016 proved to be a breakthrough for Pandya as he made his ODI debut against New Zealand and later debuted in Test cricket against Sri Lanka in 2017, impressively scoring a half-century in his first innings. His T20 International debut in January 2016 showcased his all-round abilities, and he went on to become the first Indian to score 4 wickets and more than 30 runs in a T20I during a match against England in July 2018.

Pandya’s ODI career has been noteworthy, featuring impactful performances in the ICC Champions Trophy and earning a spot in the 2019 Cricket World Cup squad. His exceptional ODI career-best of 4-24 against England in July 2022, coupled with a half-century in the same match, solidified his reputation as a dynamic all-rounder. In the Test arena, Pandya’s maiden Test century against Sri Lanka in 2017 underscored his adaptability and potential in the longest format of the game.

Hardik Pandya Career In IPL

In the pre-IPL 2015 auction, MI bought 22-year-old Pandya for Rs 10 Lakh. After just 2 seasons, its cost increased to 10 Crores. He was released by MI ahead of the 2022 season after injuries derailed his career. Due to injuries, Pandya missed out on international selection as he focused on his recovery and rehabilitation, and returned to professional cricket with the Titans in the IPL 2022 season. With GT, Pandya served as captain as the new franchise needed an experienced and renowned leader.

After playing 2 successful seasons for GT (1 championship and 1 runner-up), Pandya was released in November 2023. The Titans decided to take this step to get 15 Crores into their wallet. GT representatives realized that Pandya would not be their “eternal captain”. It is not known when exactly, but Pandya spoke to his former franchise, expressing his desire to return to MI, where it all began for him in 2015. For such an expensive purchase, Mumbai Indians had to sell Australian Cameron Green. Green was bought by MI just 1 season ago for an impressive 17.5 Crores and will play for RCB in 2024.

Hardik Pandya IPL Stats

As an all-rounder, Pandya has impressive stats in the IPL. He is a top 10 all-rounder, ranked 10th with 2309 runs.

Hardik Pandya Bowling Stats

Here is the table with Pandya’s total bowling stats in his IPL career, for MI and GT: 

IPL	Mtch	BALLS	RUNS	WKTS	BBM	AVG	ECON	SR
2015 (MI)	9	102	176	1	1/13	176.00	10.35	102.00
2016 (MI)	11	100	153	3	1/7	51.00	9.18	33.33
2017 (MI)	17	156	213	6	2/22	35.50	8.19	26.00
2018 (MI)	13	256	381	18	3/24	21.16	8.92	14.22
2019 (MI)	16	255	390	14	3/20	27.85	9.17	18.21
2020 (MI)	14	0	0	0	–	–	–	–
2021 (MI)	12	0	0	0	–	–	–	–
2022 (GT)	15	183	222	8	3/17	27.75	7.28	22.88
2023 (GT)	16	150	228	3	1/10	76.00	9.12	50.00
Total	123	1202	1763	53	3/17	33.26	8.80	22.68

The all-rounder underwent back surgery in late 2019, which kept him out of international cricket for a long time. He returned to competitive cricket in IPL 2020. Although he was good with the bat, Pandya did not score a single ball in two years of IPL: 2020 and 2021.

Hardik Pandya Batting And Fielding Stats

Here is the table with Pandya’s total batting and fielding stats in his IPL career, for MI and GT: 

IPL	Mtch	NO	Runs	HS	AVG	BF	SR	50	4S	6S	CT
2015 (MI)	9	3	112	61*	22.40	62	180.64	1	9	8	6
2016 (MI)	11	2	44	9	6.28	63	69.84	0	4	0	6
2017 (MI)	17	9	250	35*	35.71	160	156.25	0	11	20	12
2018 (MI)	13	4	260	50	28.88	195	133.33	1	20	11	8
2019 (MI)	16	6	402	91	44.66	210	191.42	1	28	29	11
2020 (MI)	14	5	281	60*	35.12	157	178.98	1	14	25	6
2021 (MI)	12	2	127	40*	14.11	112	113.39	0	11	5	4
2022 (GT)	15	4	487	87*	44.27	371	131.27	4	49	12	4
2023 (GT)	16	4	346	66	31.45	253	136.76	2	26	15	8
Total	123	39	2309	91	30.38	1583	145.86	10	172	125	65

Hardik Pandya Centuries & Half-centuries

While playing in the IPL, Pandya did not score a single century. For all his career, he hit only 1 century: in a Test match against Sri Lanka in 2017. In IPL, he achieved 10 half-centuries.

Hardik Pandya Awards

For his career, Pandya scored a lot of the awards and titles: 

• Arjuna Award (2018).
• BCCI Polly Umrigar Award (2018-19).
• Sir Garfield Sobers Trophy for ICC Cricketer of the Year (2021).
• Fourth Indian to be named player of the match on ODI debut.
• Most runs in a single over of a Test inning for India (26 runs).
• The first Indian batsman to score a Test 100 just before lunch.
• Second Indian batsman to hit the 50s and pick up 4 wickets in ODIs.
• 6th highest strike rate in T20Is (115.59).
• The Sportsman of the Year (Cricket) at the Sportstar Aces Awards 2023.
• Captain in the Gujarat Titans (IPL 2022-2023).
• 5 times IPL champion: 4 times as a member of Mumbai Indians, and once as a member and captain of Gujarat Titans.

Hardik Pandya Price & Salary In IPL

Here are his reported IPL salaries from 2015 to 2024:

IPL Season	Team	Price
2015, first Pandya’s IPL season	Mumbai Indians	10 Lakhs
2016	Mumbai Indians	20 Lakhs
2017	Mumbai Indians	10 Crores
2018	Mumbai Indians	11 Crores
2019	Mumbai Indians	11 Crores
2020	Mumbai Indians	11 Crores
2021	Mumbai Indians	11 Crores
2022, traded from MI to GT	Gujarat Titans	15 Crores
2023	Gujarat Titans	15 Crores
2024, traded back from GT to MI	Mumbai Indians	15 Crores

Hardik Pandya Personality

Hardik Pandya’s father is Himanshu Pandya, who used to run a small car finance business. Unfortunately, Himanshu Pandya passed away in 2020 due to a cardiac arrest. His untimely demise was a significant loss for the Pandya family, and Hardik dedicated his performances on the cricket field to his late father. 

Hardik’s mother, Nalini Pandya, has been a constant pillar of support for her sons throughout their cricketing careers. She played a crucial role in nurturing their passion for cricket from a young age. Despite the family facing challenges, Nalini has been a source of strength for both Hardik and his elder brother, Krunal.

Hardik Pandya Relationships

In terms of his personal life, Hardik Pandya is married to Serbian actress and model Natasa Stankovic.

The couple tied the knot in a private ceremony in 2020 and later welcomed their first child, a son named Agastya. Their relationship has been widely celebrated, and they often share glimpses of their family life on social media.

Hardik Pandya’s Brother

Krunal Pandya (eldest brother of Hardik, born in 1991) is also an international cricketer and played with him in the past for Mumbai Indians before he was bought by Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL 2022 auction.

Hardik Pandya Tattoos

For the end of 2023, Pandya has 8 tattoos. There are next: 

• Believe Tattoo. Location: Left arm, expressing his self-belief.
• Tiger Tattoo. Location: Unspecified, but considered one of his favorite tattoos, symbolizing strength and courage.
• Right Arm “Never Give Up”. Location: Inner side of his right arm, featuring a fighter with a sword and the phrase “never give up.”
• “Live to SUCCEED OR Die Trying” Tattoo. Location: Left arm biceps, showcasing the life motto.
• Paw Tattoo on Neck (Right Side). Location: Right side of the neck, displaying the paw prints of his dogs, Aston Pandya and Bentley Pandya.
• Peace Symbol on Neck (Left Side). Location: Left side of the neck, representing a desire for peace.
• Time Defining Clock. Location: Left forearm, incorporating his birth time.
• The tattoo on the Right Forearm is an abstract tattoo with an undisclosed meaning.

Controversy

In 2019, Hardik Pandya faced controversy due to his comments on a talk show that were deemed inappropriate and offensive.

The remarks led to a public outcry, and both Hardik and his teammate KL Rahul were suspended from international cricket pending an investigation. The incident highlighted the need for cricketers to exercise caution in public forums and raised discussions about the responsibility of sports figures in shaping public perception.

Conclusion

In hindsight, Hardik Pandya’s cricketing journey unfolds as a riveting saga of talent, tenacity, and versatility. Rising through the ranks in Gujarat, Pandya’s early promise was marked by a unique blend of aggressive batting, agile fielding, and an emerging prowess with the ball. 

His ability to score quick runs, often at a strike rate well above 100, underscores his aggressive approach and his utility as a finisher in limited-overs cricket. Moreover, his knack for providing breakthroughs with the ball, coupled with an economy rate that mirrors his control and precision, adds another dimension to his all-round capabilities.

His heroic innings in the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy final against Pakistan, where he almost single-handedly turned the game on its head with a blistering 76, remains etched in cricketing lore. Additionally, his consistent contributions in the Indian Premier League (IPL), further underscore his prowess as a match-winner.

Hardik Pandya Was Back In Mumbai Indians For IPL 2024 Video

FAQ