Having made an impressive return to international cricket in the T20I series opener against South Africa in Cuttack, star all-rounder Hardik Pandya made it clear that his comeback is driven by bigger ambitions and a renewed hunger to make every moment count.
Pandya, who returned to international action for the first time since his injury during the Asia Cup 2025, put all doubts to rest with a commanding all-round display in Cuttack.
Hardik reminded everyone of his match-winning prowess, smashing an unbeaten 59 and delivering a sharp spell of 1-16 as India cruised to a 101-run victory to take a 1-0 lead in the series. As a result, he was adjudged.
“You should be a rockstar, come perform for 10 minutes, and the crowd goes berserk. That has been the biggest motivation for me. Life has always thrown a lot of lemons at me, and I always thought that I would make lemonade. I’ve always believed that if I don’t believe in myself, how will others believe me? My mindset was really about coming back stronger, bigger and better,” Hardik, who was adjudged the Player of the Match, said in a video shared by the BCCI.
Reflecting on the emotional and mental toll of injuries, he added, “Every time that I walk in, I feel like the crowd has been waiting for this moment. They’ve come to watch me bat. Because I have stood strong, I have done a lot of things with grace. That has helped me become even more confident, back myself, and really trust my skill set. I really believe in myself as a player. Injuries test you mentally as well, and at the same time, it puts you in a lot of doubt.”
Hardik also acknowledged the role of the people who supported him through his recovery, especially his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma, whose presence, he said, has brought positivity into his life.
“A lot of credit goes to my loved ones. Special mention to my partner as well. She’s been nothing but the best to me since she entered my life. A lot of great things have happened since she’s arrived,” he said.
Emphasising his desire to stay grounded and true to himself, Hardik reiterated that he is focused on enjoying the game while chasing bigger goals.
“I’ve been a very honest and very real person in life as well, which has helped me a lot. I don’t really sugarcoat a lot of things in my life. It’s never about the other person, never about how others think or how others perceive. It is always about how I feel inside. Now it’s a time where Hardik Pandya just wants to play the sport and enjoy every second on the ground. And yes, bigger and better will be the motto in my life,” he added.