India all-rounder Hardik Pandya thanked the Baroda crowd for giving him a hero’s welcome upon his return after India’s T20 World Cup 2024 triumph. Notably, Pandya returned to his hometown on Monday, July 15 and was given a rousing reception as a special road show was organised for the all rounder for his welcome.
A huge number of fans thronged to the streets to see the World Cup winner who waved at them from atop a bus. Pandya also danced to the beats of the beats of Dhol all around while waving the national tricolour with pride. Following the rapturous welcome, the India cricketer thanked his fans via a special social media post.
“Surreal Thank you for all the love Baroda, thank you for the support and thank you for making this such a special day. So many emotions, but always grateful,” wrote Pandya on his X account.
Pandya’s T20 World Cup in Numbers
Pandya’s life has come full circle after a successful T20 World Cup as he managed to win the love of his fans back after a controversial season in Indian Premier League 2024. Notably, the 30-year-old was booed and jeered by the Mumbai crowd during Indian Premier League 2024 (IPL 2024) after replacing Rohit Sharma as the skipper of MI. However, during the felicitation ceremony for team India at the Wankhede Stadium, the cricketer got a warm welcome with the entire crowd chanting his name.
The all-rounder played a pivotal role in India’s victorious campaign with both bat and ball scoring 144 runs from six innings at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 registering one half-century. His highest score of the tournament came against Bangladesh in the Super 8 stages when he scored an unbeaten 50* (27).
With the ball, the right-arm seamer picked up 11 wickets from eight innings at an average of 17.36 and an economy of 7.64. The 30-year-old saved his best bowling performance for the final picking up 3/20 in three overs which included the prized scalps of Heinrich Klaasen (52 off 27) and David Miller(21 off 17). He defended 16 runs of the final over by dismissing Miller on the very first ball courtesy of a breathtaking catch by Suryakumar Yadav and set up a seven-run win for India.