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Hardik Himanshu Pandya, born on 11 October 1993, is one of the most important players for India in the recent times. The all-rounder, who is a right-handed middle-order batsman and bowls right-arm fast-medium, has become a key player for India in white-ball cricket. He has also represented India in all the three formats, but owing to fitness concerns, he is no longer a regular in Test cricket.
In the Indian Premier League (IPL), he is the current captain of the Mumbai Indians and also plays for Baroda in domestic cricket. He has also captained India and was the vice-captain of the squad that won the 2024 T20 World Cup.
Hardik Pandya has been one of the key players for Baroda since 2013 – he made significant contributions to the side in their victory march in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy during the 2013-14 season.Â
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Hardik Pandya IPL Journey
As far as his IPL journey is concerned, he started his career with the Mumbai Indians back on 2015 and was an integral member of the side till 2021. He made a significant impact for the side in crucial matches and this includes his 61 runs off 31 balls against the Kolkata Knight Riders in one of the must-win matches.
Ahead of the IPL 2022 mega auction, Pandya was released by Mumbai Indians as he head across to the Gujarat Titans – a new entrant in the IPL and was appointed captain of the Ahmedabad-based franchise. He captained Gujarat Titans to their maiden IPL title in 2022, becoming the first captain since Shane Warne in 2008 to captain a side to a win in the debut season. In IPL 2023, Pandya led Gujarat Titans to their second successive final, though they were beaten by the Chennai Super Kings.
Pandya then made a return to the Mumbai Indians in 2024 as a captain and he took over the mantle from Rohit Sharma. However, this was not a pleasant return since he faced a lot of flak from the fans and this reflected in the performance of the side – Mumbai Indians had a disappointing campaign as they finished last in the group stages and did not make it to the playoffs.
Hardik Pandya International Career
Hardik Pandya made his Twenty20 International debut for India on 27 January 2016 when he was just 22 after decent outing in the IPL. He started by picking a couple of wickets for Australia and his impact really came to the fore during India’s 2024 T20 World Cup campaign where he was a significant performer with both bat and ball.
Pandya’s One Day International (ODI) debut came against New Zealand on 16 October 2016 in Dharamsala. He made a record in this match as he became the fourth Indian to win the Player of the Match award on ODI debut.
He was also included in India’s Test squad for the home series against England in late 2016, but was ruled out with an injury sustained at training. He eventually made his Test debut in July 2017 during India’s tour of Sri Lanka, where he scored his maiden Test century in the final match. In this process, he set the record for becoming the first Indian batter to score a Test century before lunch.Â
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Hardik Pandya Jersey Number
Hardik Pandya’s jersey number in the Indian team is 33. In an interview, the all-rounder revealed that he originally wanted the number 3 jersey, but since it was already taken by former cricketers like Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, he decided to merge two 3’s to create his unique jersey number. Thus, the jersey number of Hardik Pandya is 33, which he proudly sports while playing for the Indian team as well as for the Mumbai Indians.
Interesting story about Hardik Pandya jersey number in Indian Team
Interestingly, when Hardik made his debut for India, he donned a jersey with the number 228. Now, the meaning of this jersey number of Hardik Pandya can be trached back to a rather pivotal moment in his early cricketing journey. According to cricket statistician Mohandas Menon, this jersey number of Hardik Pandya is related to one of his most memorable innings during the Vijay Merchant U-16 tournament in 2009.
In that particular match, Pandya was captaining the Baroda U-16 team in a match against Mumbai U-16 at the Reliance Cricket Stadium in Nagothane on December 9, 2009. It was in this match that he showcased his exceptional talent and resilience by scoring a remarkable 228 runs—a performance that is still his highest individual score of his career.
FAQs about Hardik Pandya’s jersey number
Q) What is Hardik Pandya’s jersey number in the Indian team?
A) Hardik Pandya’s jersey number in the Indian team is 33.
Q) Why did Hardik Pandya choose the jersey number 33?
A) Hardik Pandya originally wanted the number 3 jersey, but since it was taken, he merged two 3’s to create his unique jersey number, 33.
Q) Did Hardik Pandya ever wear a different jersey number?
A) Yes, during his debut for India, Hardik Pandya wore a jersey with the number 228.
Q) What is the significance of the number 228 in Hardik Pandya’s career?
A) The number 228 represents Hardik Pandya’s highest individual score, achieved during a Vijay Merchant U-16 match in 2009.
