Growth is one word you can associate with Hardik Pandya, for the cricketer fused his psyche, game readiness, and attitude to craft a ‘champion’ campaign for India at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The result? An ICC trophy and the honour of being the first-ever Indian to top the all-rounder rankings.

Following the INDvPAK game at the iconic MCG, Hardik gave a specific quote at the mixed-media catchup - “Somewhere down the line, I have accepted the fact that this sport will give me ups and downs. The more ups I have the better, but even the downs I will cherish because failure teaches you many things."

Maintaining this mindset was indeed challenging. Hardik had to navigate a dip in form in early 2023, an ankle injury at the ODI World Cup 2023, rehab, and the subsequent difficult return in IPL 2024. The unorthodox balance of the off-field and on-field fire vs ice battle is something not all cricketers have the tools to battle against, but HP gave the world a reason to inspire many.

Channelling all the events in the past year into the resolute will to put India above him at the T20 World Cup 2024, he began with an impressive unbeaten 40 against Bangladesh in the warm-up game. In New York, Kung-Fu Pandya had a ball of a time, grabbing seven wickets in three games.

He carried this form to the West Indies for the second half of the competition, where the runs started coming. “Clutch” is a term often associated with Hardik, and his timely cameos - including a match-defining unbeaten half-century against Bangladesh in the Super 8 - catapulted India to the finals at Barbados.

Hardik Pandya has always reserved his best performance for big occasions, and it indeed came in his 100th T20I appearance for India - The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. And, guess what, his moment of magic came in the nick of time - when the Men in Blue had to defend 25 runs in 24 balls.

Overs 16.1 - A slower, full delivery takes a critical outside edge of Heinrich Klassen’s bat and sails to wicket-keeper Rishabh Pant. [HP only concedes four runs in the over]

India had to defend 15 runs in the final over, and Hardik was assigned the task.

Overs 19.1 - A low wide full toss invites David Miller to skyrocket it towards long-off. And out of nowhere comes Aapla Dada Surya to not only take a superhuman catch but also put India one step closer to the trophy.

Overs 19.5 - HP bowls, SA batter (Kagiso Rabada) swings it to long-off, SKY takes the catch - it felt like the first ball of the over was repeated.

And with this, just as he did in a 2016 T20WC game against Bangladesh, Hardik Pandya defended the target in the final over and became a national hero. It was a befitting reward for a man who held the belief to be a game-changer and proved it with his words.

The tears flowed, the triumph of pride and joy soared, and he could only say a few words. “It means a lot. Very emotional, we’ve been working very hard, but something was not clicking; today was the day we fulfilled what the whole nation wanted. More special for me is how my last 6 months were; I have been very graceful of not speaking a word, and things have been very unfair, but I believed that if I keep working hard there will be a time where I would shine and do what I can do. That sums everything up. It was a dream to win. Getting an opportunity like this makes it even more special.”

While we salute Hardik Pandya's whirlwind comeback, we look back at his performance in the format over the past year.