All-rounder Hardik Pandya said that it took some time for him to recover from the emotional strain that came with being suspended in 2019. Pandya and teammate KL Rahul’s comments had led to widespread criticism and backlash.
It eventually led to The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suspending the pair. Due to the suspension, Pandya missed a majority of India’s tours in Australia and New Zealand. He said that he straightaway accepted that what he did was wrong and the events had an effect on emotionally.
“When I heard I was going to get suspended, a lot of cricketers who knew me personally, who knew what kind of an individual I am, they went out and spoke about it, which is fine. They thought I was done. I heard lots of people saying, ‘Hardik’s done, he won’t be able to cope with this.’ Because I was the bad boy of Indian cricket at that time,” he said.
“I told my brother: I am not done. I am going to give them a surprise. I decided that the only thing that can get me out of the whole situation will be my sport. I decided: ‘Hardik, it is now your time to get your game up, improve.'”
Pandya was dismissed for a first-ball duck in the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL), which was his first since the suspension and a lengthy injury layoff. He said this had an effect on him while practising for the next game.
“At the Chinnaswamy (Bengaluru), while practising, I was missing the ball by this much (shows a wide gap). Because when this is not right (points to head) and when you question yourself, things just go wrong. That day I cried during training because there was a lot of emotion.
“Because of how I was portrayed (after the talk-show incident). I was never that individual. I was not able to concentrate on my sport because there was a lot of expectation from myself, leave anyone else,” he said.
Pandya said that his brother and fellow all-rounder Krunal told him to let people have expectations.
“Krunal comes and says: “Let people have expectations from you.” He tells me that even today: ‘My cricket role model is you, so if you don’t grow, if I come to your level as a cricketer, I won’t be happy because I have always looked up to you. Let people have expectations from you. Just relax, because where you are and what you have done and what you are going to do, no one will be able to match you.’
“The first game after that I scored a 14-ball 32. After that match Krunal told me, now you will not hear from me,” he said.
