“It was all happening before my eyes” - Hardik Pandya strolls down memory lane to INDvBAN game in T20 WC 2016

India’s premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya has strolled down memory lane to the turning point of his career, the game against Bangladesh in the ICC T20 World Cup 2016 at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru.

Shifting our focus to the details of the game, Hardik was tasked to defend 11 runs in the last over in that particular game. The all-rounder lived up to everyone’s expectations as he led India to a one-run win in the thrilling affair. 

Speaking exclusively to JioStar, Hardik revealed that particular game laid the foundation for everything that followed in his career, adding that it’s very important to have belief even when there is a 1% chance in the game of cricket.

“I think all these moments made me the kind of person I am. There were early challenges in my international career where I had to hold my ground and back myself. It was important to have belief. In cricket, even if there is just a 1% chance, the game is not over until the last ball of the match is bowled,” Hardik Pandya told JioStar.

“That Bangladesh match was a classic example of that. One ball before the wicket, the batter had started celebrating as if the game was over. He was celebrating right in front of me, and it was all happening before my eyes,” he added.

“When things turn around like that, they create wonderful memories. Every time I see it, I think about how, in the early days, that was one of the challenges in my life and one of the moments in my career that shaped Hardik Pandya. I have had many more moments like this, but my journey started with that one,” he concluded.

Hardik is currently taking part in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign. India will next take on the Netherlands on February 18, in Ahmedabad.

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