Ahmedabad: Soon after Shubman Gill hit the winning six off Obed McCoy to seal the IPL-2022 title for the Gujarat Titans, Hardik Pandya was locked in a long embrace with wife Natasa Stankovic, who was visibly emotional. The Titans' triumph was, after all, the culmination of a roller-coaster journey for the India all-rounder.
Following an ordinary show in the T20 World Cup in the UAE in October-November - he scored just 69 runs in five matches @ 34.50 and bowled just four wicketless overs for 40 runs - Hardik was dropped from the Indian team. Subsequently, the 28-year-old was released by Mumbai Indians too. Soon, though, Hardik had some good news coming his way as new franchise Gujarat Titans made him their captain.
And then, IPL-2022 gave Hardik everything he would've wished for. He's now in the rare group of players who have been a part of five IPL title wins. He's led the Gujarat Titans, his home state IPL team, to the crown in their debut season with a stellar all-round show: 487 runs in 15 games @ 44.27, with four fifties while batting at the pivotal No. 4 spot. He also took eight wickets @ 27.75 (economy rate just 7.27). And he's walked back into Team India.
"Obviously, she (Natasa) is someone who's very emotional and she gets happy when she sees me doing well. She has seen me go through a lot and she has seen me putting in those hard yards.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
US soccer scrubs Islamic emblem from Iran flag
The federation said in a statement Sunday that it decided to forego the official flag on social media accounts to show “support for the women in Iran fighting for basic human rights.”
Pyar Ke Saat Vachan Dharam Patnii begins on TV tonight
What happens when kismet takes over the lives of two couples belonging to two different sections of society?
Arijit serenades music lovers in Mumbai
Arijit Singh casts a spell with his voice
ARGENTINA LIVE TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY
Messi's Strike Rattles Mexico And Lusail, Brings Team Back From The Brink
Costa Rica come alive
Los Ticos Stun Japan With Late Fuller Winner
Morocco's moment under the sun
Inspired Atlas Lions Shock Belgium For First WC Win In 24 Years
ON YOUR MARK, GET SET, SOAR
Athletics Icon Usha Set To Become First Woman President Of IOA
Industry body calls for slower rate hikes
CII Asks RBI To Moderate Pace Of Raising Repo As Global Woes May Impact Growth
Insurance reforms may see PE funding surge in sector
Irdai Raises Investment Cap, Allows PEs To Be Promoters
Cut ties with child-killing regime, Khamenei's niece tells world, held
Iranian authorities have arrested a niece of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after she recorded a video describing the authorities led by her uncle as a “murderous and child-killing regime”.
