Hardik Pandya during the T20 World Cup 2024.
TimesofIndia.com in Delhi: In Egyptian mythology, Atum is the primordial creator deity who arose from the chaotic waters and came into existence before the rest of the world was created. Simply put, Atum created himself. This is not a mythological story in the wrong section. It’s about the rise, grind and survival of India’s premier all-rounder, MVP of white-ball cricket: Hardik Pandya.Chaos and Hardik Pandya go hand in hand, but the cricketer has been able to fight against the odds, drown out outside noise and constantly fight against perception.Dance, drums and fun! Team India lands in Colombo | Hardik Pandya with the arrival of Mahieka Sharmaindia-
Quirky hairstyles, numerous tattoos, unique style of dressing, flashy cars and the meanest collection of exotic watches. They love him for cricket, question his decisions and troll him for his personal life. Yet this single glance will leave a lasting impression and a warmth that will instantly make you feel at home. Hate him, troll him, but you can’t ignore him. Pandya is the heart of India’s white-ball set-up and a vital element that has kept the scales in balance since 2016.However, 2016 is not a pivotal year in the Pandya story. It was in the 2013-14 Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and John Wright was watching one of Baroda’s matches from the stands. The then head coach of Mumbai Indians scouted local talent for the franchise and it was the first glimpse of Pandya that left a lasting impression on the New Zealander. It happened more than a decade ago, but the 71-year-old remembers the details like they happened yesterday.“I watched him for a week in different matches at BKC. He didn’t get many runs but he had attitude. He kept trying to hit it over the boundary and attack. We tried to sign him that year because we had a gap in our team. I think Jalaj Saxena got injured and we could replace him but Hardik hurt his back so we couldn’t hit the net. He got injured so we couldn’t get him that year.
AHMEDABAD, INDIA – JUNE 01: Hardik Pandya of Mumbai Indians catches Priyansh Arya of Punjab Kings during the 2025 IPL Qualifier 2 match between Punjab Kings and Mumbai Indians at Narendra Modi Stadium on June 1, 2025 in Ahmedabad, India. (Photo: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)
“We got him the next year. I was lucky, you know, because I played against Kiran (More) and Kiran and I have been friends for years. And he knew something about him, but I loved his attitude. Yeah. I’ll never forget that clip of his hips – like Virender Sehwag, who, you know, sometimes it’s just a win you see, title 2, from us it was 205 with us. Wright tells TimesofIndia.com from New Zealand.Pandya’s entry into the MI set-up meant he shared a dressing room with absolute legends of the game. In that trench, he found mentors and coaches and formed bonds that remain strong. Kieron Pollard’s entry into his life remains the defining moment of Pandya’s career. In the West Indian all-rounder, Pandya found someone he could relate to, talk to and learn from. While these lessons went beyond cricket, the lessons didn’t start immediately, but the initial confidence was something that stayed with Pollard for many years.
I only hope and one day pray that we continue to remember Hardik Pandya for what he truly did on the cricket field. Rather than expensive watches and cars and such
Kieron Pollard
“My first thought of him, again, somebody who’s excited, somebody who had that youthful exuberance, coming into an unknown world, but he was still just himself. And again, I think that’s what struck me, because normally when guys come into a lineup like MI, they’re normally shy. But he wasn’t shy. He was confident. And I think that’s what attracted me, you know, Pollard.While first impressions were very good, Pollard took it easy with the young all-rounder. He didn’t look too far ahead, but the moment he saw Pandya sailing through the pitfalls of his career, he made up his mind. The West Indian was convinced that Pandya had “real guts” to excel on the big stage and was “ready for the big time”.
File photo of Hardik Pandya and Kieron Pollard.
“I think it took me a couple of years to really decide that he was ‘made for it’ because he had his highs and then he had some lows. And that’s where you can really see the real grit of an individual because that tends to happen. You have one good season and then that’s it for some guys. But the way he went through his highs and lows is kind of a testament to us. They spent a lot of time together. “He spent a lot of time chatting about cricket, about life, you know, about brains and stuff. And all that stuff, when it takes hold and then you see the expressiveness on the field, again, that’s when you really realize, okay, this guy, he’s made for the big time,” explains Pollard.During his early days in the MI lineup, Wright noticed the growing closeness between Pandya and Pollard and saw the friendship blossom into a special bond. It has also rubbed off on cricket as the veteran coach still feels that “the best coaching comes from your teammates”.
I think they love each other’s company. They are great friends. He learned an awful lot from Kieran Pollard
John Wright
“I think one of the things that stands out is that they were great friends. They seemed to get along really well. And obviously playing with each other helped them. The best coaching often comes from your teammates. Your teammates. You can be a coach, but the best coaching comes from your teammates. It’s the old-fashioned way of learning. But it’s probably the best. “For example, when in the Indian team, Anil Kumble’s influence on our bowlers was huge. Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman’s influence on other batsmen was huge. I think as a coach you have to create an environment where players learn from each other. And I think that happened with Polly. But I think it’s great company. A lot from Kieran Pollard,” Wright says.In his numerous interactions, Pandya always referred to Pollard as another mother’s brother. The bond between the two remains special, with Pandya claiming that his Caribbean outlook on life continues to draw him to Pollard. When Hardik’s brother Krunal entered the MI set-up, the trio clicked instantly and together became the heart of the franchise for many years – helping them win titles and dominate the IPL. It was, in Pollard’s words, a “real engine room” of the set-up. When it comes to the Caribbean outlook, Pollard doesn’t limit it to just music and style.“We tend to associate it with Caribbean and West Indian music and style. But we also have that pride and passion for performance. When you’re not performing, people look at what you’re doing. That’s exactly from Hardik’s point of view. That’s exactly what happened to him. He dresses nicely, he’s there, he likes it, he likes it when he tries to look nice. People don’t hold it against him. confidence, that happened, so there are certain things that can happen with me resonate,” says Pollard.Pollard and Pandya spent numerous late nights and early mornings in the hotel corridors and it wasn’t all fun and games. It was about life, cricket and everything in between. During his active playing days, Pollard was always known to tune out outside noise and speak his mind. It’s an art that takes years to master, but with Pollard’s words of wisdom, Pandya had an early bootcamp to prepare him for the many battles that life and cricket have in store for him.“I think it was just one of the conversations and one of the conversations about who can influence you and who you allow to influence you. If you know you’re doing everything you need to perform on the cricket field and it’s not happening, that’s OK because it’s a game, it’s a sport, you feel a lot, right? problem.
Mumbai Indians’ Hardik Pandya looks on during the warm-up at the Narendra Modi Stadium. (Getty Images)
“My cricket will speak for me. And if my cricket doesn’t speak for me today, it’s over. I’ll let it speak for me tomorrow. And that’s the mentality that I’ve had and that’s the mentality that we kind of drill the conversation. Because people tend to say things, but we can control what we can control. We don’t live it. But when you start living it mentally with Pandyard, you reveal it stronger,” Poaard. mentally prepare him for battles.Over the years, Pandya has been labeled fragile and injury-prone, with very little recognition of the premier all-rounder’s relentless grind. He is not just a diminutive cricketer; he is a freak who can break into any XI purely on the basis of his batting or bowling. A career-threatening injury and surgery later, Pandya continues to go from strength to strength and has already played 131 T20Is and 94 ODIs for the country. And it’s not done yet!“He’d be told a lot of things. He wouldn’t be able to blend in anymore. His body isn’t strong. Who are you to say something like that? Unless you’re an expert. So when you realize that these are just words and people use words to maybe create an agenda. Channel your energy to say, okay. If you tell me I can’t, I’ll show you I can, I haven’t done that in years. It wasn’t that easy.” And such a person who lives in India, they will use it as a target. “So that’s the consequence that comes with the whole lifestyle. But you have to be able to be strong enough to get through it. I believe he was strong enough to get through it. Who’s to say they’re not going to have more? Because life is like that, life is a matter of life. But he has, he’s got a template now to get through it. That’s it,” says Pollard.
Hardik Pandya and partner Mahieka Sharma.
Flashy car wraps, expensive watches and enviable lifestyles. While Pollard wouldn’t buy most things — especially overpriced watches — which Pandya does, he’s an incredibly proud “brother from another mother” to see the story unfold from close quarters. Pollard understands the feeling of winning a World Cup for a country, giving more than 100% in matches and during preparations, but hopes Pandya is remembered for “what he did on the field”“I just hope and one day I pray that we continue to remember Hardik Pandya for what he actually did on the cricket field. Rather than expensive watches and cars and so on because that tends to come first. Like cricket, it tends to come second in the media world. For what he did from a cricket and white-ball cricket perspective. He did what he did, especially coming from a family – we can’t forget the support he came from. Phenomenal and long may it be keep going,” says Pollard.Before hanging up, Pollard remembered to praise his red-ball tours of India as well. The current perception is that Pandya no longer wants to play Test cricket for India, but like Atum, he is determined to rise from the troubled waters.