'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Team India's 2024 T20 World Cup-winning all-rounder Hardik Pandya attended Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's sangeet ceremony at the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai on Friday, July 5, with brother Krunal and keeper-batter Ishan Kishan. Hardik's wife Natasa Stankovic was not seen in the videos shared on social media.
The 30-year-old all-rounder is in the news for his brilliant contribution to India's 2024 T20 World Cup triumph. He claimed 11 wickets in eight matches at an impressive average of 17.36, with a best of 3-20. With the willow, the right-handed batter contributed 144 runs at an average of 48 and a strike rate of 151.58.
Hardik bowled the last over in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa at the Kensington Oval in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Proteas needed 16 runs for victory, but the right-arm pacer held his nerve and ensured a famous win for India.
Watch the video of the cricketers arriving for the Sangeet ceremony:
On Friday, July 5, news agency ANI shared a clip of the all-rounder attending the sangeet ceremony of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai with brother Krunal and Kishan.
A smiling Hardik posed solo for the cameras and also gave group pictures. Apart from the Pandya brothers, MS Dhoni with his wife Sakshi, Suryakumar Yadav and Shreyas Iyer were also spotted at the event.
Hardik Pandya's roller coaster ride over the last few months
Hardik has gone through a series of varied emotions over the last few months. But he overcame all the challenges to silence his detractors by proving himself at the biggest of all stage - the World Cup.
The troubled times for the all-rounder began immediately after he had replaced Rohit Sharma as captain for IPL 2024. Hitman fans were unfairly cruel on the Gujarat-born player, booing him vociferously during the T20 league. Such behavior was on show during many matches in the first half of the tournament.
Hardik, himself failed to deliver as captain and player, as Mumbai Indians failed to make it to the playoffs in IPL 2024. Following his struggles in the tournament, there were question marks over his inclusion in the T20 World Cup squad.
The selectors and the team management, though, backed the under-fire all-rounder, and the experienced cricketer delivered the goods in the ICC event held in the West Indies and the United States.
Immediately after bowling the last ball in the final against South Africa, Hardik sank to the ground and burst out in tears, unable to control of emotions that he had hidden over the last three to four months.
