Set the alarms, dust your TV sets, and keep your merchandise prayers and chants ready, as Mumbai Indians’ IPL 2024 campaign opener is just five days away. 

Our skipper - Hardik Pandya - has given the Paltan a mountain of memories during his first stint with MI. Growing from a rookie talent into a serial-winning all-rounder in 2015, 2017, 2019 and 2020, captain Hardik - with a confident attitude and a proven track record from his last two seasons in the competition - is out to script a new chapter in the storied history of Aamchi Mumbai.

As we look forward to seeing such a spectacle in the Mission 2024 journey, let us reminisce on a few iconic HP moments from the past that came in our Blue and Gold..

1. That Sixes riot vs CSK - 2015

In his fourth game in the Blue and Gold, Hardik Pandya gave just the perfect exhibition of the ‘Kung Fu Pandya’ persona that cricket fans would see in the years to come. He came into bat in the 18th over of the 159-run chase against Chennai Super Kings. Taking the crease for the penultimate over and Mumbai needing 30 runs from 12 balls, Hardik smashed three sixes off four Pawan Negi deliveries to turn the tide of the fleeting chase back in MI’s favour. The world knew a finisher was born, staying unbeaten till the end and seeing us home - 21* from just eight balls.

2. The *carnage* at Wankhede vs KKR - 2015

If the knock against CSK was a trailer, here is a feature-length show of Hardik Pandya the Finisher. MI were in a fix on their turf, reduced to 79/4 inside 11.4 overs in a must-win encounter. But enter Hardik, and as they say, ‘Victory belongs to the most persevering.’ He raced to an unbeaten 61 in just 31 balls - packaged with eight boundary fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 196.77 - that not only raised the morale of the team but also kept the crowd at the Wankhede Stadium on the edge of their seats. Eventually, Mumbai would win the game.

3. Hardik ‘The Fighter’ stands tall vs CSK - 2018

It was the season opener and one of the classic MI vs CSK matches of the IPL folklore. Hardik hit a 20-ball 22 to get Mumbai to a first innings score of 165/4, alongside his brother Krunal (41 off 22 balls). Taking a cue from this display, the all-rounder scalped three wickets - of Shane Watson (3.4) and Suresh Raina (5.6) in the powerplay before adding another - Mark Wood (16.3) - in the death overs. However, Hardik’s effort would be shadowed by Dwayne Bravo’s blitz that salvaged Chennai a one-wicket win with one ball to spare.

4. Hardik’s All-star act vs CSK - 2019

Be it the bat or ball, HP’s penchant for giving it all when it matters was simply becoming a usual sight for the Paltan. Mumbai batted first against Chennai at the Wankhede Stadium and put on a first innings total of 170/5, thanks to Hardik’s late outburst (25 runs off eight balls). If that was not all, he returned to torment the Yellow Brigade with the ball. Just as CSK started to find their footing with their fourth wicket partnership, Kung Fu Pandya snuck in and got rid of MS Dhoni (12) and Ravindra Jadeja (1) in the 15th over. He pocketed another dismissal (Deepak Chahar - 7) to finish with match figures of 3/20 and anchor MI to a victory in the El Clasico battle.

5. Hardik toggles ‘run-machine’ switch vs KKR - 2019

This innings saw Pandya register his highest score in the IPL and exhibit his version of the ‘MI mentality’ with the bat. While the game - MI vs KKR - went against the Blue and Gold’s favour, this innings was probably the cleanest ball-striking we’ve seen. At one point, MI were 58/4 and Hardik - smashing four fours and nine sixes at a rate of 267.64 - catapulted the team to 185/6 before he was dismissed for 91 off just 34 balls.