One of the most loved Indian Cricketers at the moment is Hardik Pandya. He has represented India in all formats of Cricket, be it ODI series or Test Matches. Born in Surat, the Cricketer comes from a humble background and is a Cricketer because of his father’s dedication and dreams towards the sport and his sons.
Pandya bowls right-arm medium speed but is also an excellent right-handed batsman. This quality of an all-rounder has not been seen in Indian players since Kapil Dev. His fans love Pandya, and the fans of the sport, so here are five interesting facts about the game that you didn’t know.
1. The Kiran More International Academy
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After recognizing the Cricketer’s ability at a very young age, Pandya’s father took him and his brother, Krunal Pandya to be admitted in the Kiran Moore International Academy when they were 5 and 7 years old, respectively. Still, they found out when they reached that the minimum age for admission into the academy was 12 years.
Pandya’s father somehow convinced Kiran Moore to test the brothers and their skills without losing hope. Hardik managed to impress the former Cricketer. He and his brother were soon admitted into the university after the academy’s rules were changed, and boys of all ages were allowed to be trained at the academy.
2. Humble and Hardworking
Hardik Pandya comes from a very humble background, and it is said that when they were young, his family was sometimes not able to have proper meals every day. Still, Hardik has persevered and built himself into an excellent Cricketer. Hardik was also not interested in studies which is why he quit school when he failed in the 9th standard. He finished school and focused without any distraction on growing as a Cricketer and becoming the best all-rounders the sport has ever seen.
3. A Leg Spinner
When Pandya first started at the Kiran Moore Academy, he used to bowl leg-spin, but when there was a shortage of fast bowlers, Moore asked Pandya to take the responsibility; thus, Pandya’s brilliance as a fast bowler was accidentally discovered.
4. The West Indian of Baroda
Hardik Pandya’s vivid and expressive style has got him a nickname. He is often known as ‘The West Indian of Baroda’ because of his colorful attitude and the big and bright smile he always has on his face on and off the field.
5. The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy
During a Group C match in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy against Delhi, Hardik Pandya smashed 39 runs in just an over for Baroda. The bowler was Akash Sudan, and Pandya hit five sixes and one four in that over, along with four byes and a no-ball, which took the count to 39 breaking the record of 38 runs in an over-held by Scott Styris. This over made Hardik Pandya the batsman who scored the most significant number of runs in an over in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
These are five quirky yet fascinating facts about the famous Cricketer, Hardik Pandya.
