WATCH | T20 World Cup Champion Hardik Pandya Welcomed by Over 3 Lakh Fans in Vadodara

July 15, 2024 0 737

Hardik Pandya received a hero’s welcome in Vadodara, where over 3 lakh fans gathered for a roadshow to celebrate his achievement, while his brother Krunal shared video glimpses of the massive crowd.

India’s T20 World Cup-winning allrounder Hardik Pandya received a hero’s welcome in Vadodara on Monday, the city where he and his brother Krunal began their cricket careers with the Baroda team. Celebrating India’s victory, where Hardik took three crucial wickets in the final against South Africa, the Pandya brothers participated in a grand roadshow.

Fans gathered in massive numbers, chanting Hardik’s name and cheering for their local hero. The roadshow saw Hardik and Krunal waving to the sea of supporters from the top of a bus. Krunal shared a video of the event, highlighting the overwhelming support from nearly 3.5 lakh people who turned out to greet the World Champion.

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A post shared by Krunal Himanshu Pandya (@krunalpandya_official)

Hardik also shared the crowd’s footage on his Instagram, thanking his fans for their immense support.

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A post shared by Hardik Himanshu Pandya (@hardikpandya93)

Hardik Pandya’s ankle injury during last year’s ODI World Cup against Bangladesh had ruled him out of the entire tournament. After extensive rehab at the National Cricket Academy, he returned to action in IPL 2024 as the Mumbai Indians’ captain. However, his new role wasn’t well-received by fans, who booed him at stadiums and criticized him on social media.

Recently, Hardik became the first Indian to top the ICC men’s T20I all-rounder rankings, sharing the spot with Sri Lanka’s Wanindu Hasaranga. He is the sixth Indian to achieve a No. 1 ranking in T20I.

The all-rounder also participated in the T20 World Cup victory parade in Mumbai’s Marine Drive and the celebration at Wankhede Stadium on July 4. He then shared a video with a heartfelt message on social media, thanking fans for their support. The Indian team began their victory lap from Marine Drive on an open bus, greeted by cheering fans. Hardik expressed his gratitude for the unforgettable support from Mumbai and all of India.