The Champions trophy final loss was a very bitter blow for Indian fans. India went into the match as over whelming favourites to beat their neighbours, Pakistan.
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But Pakistan proved to be too strong for them as Mohammed Aamir ripped the heart out of the Indian batting line up as the pacer’s sensational burst up front all but won the match for Pakistan.
For a brief moment though, Hardik Pandya had India dreaming again.
Pandya scored a belligerent 76 of just 43 balls, as the Baroda batsman toyed with the Pakistan bowling attack. But after an unfortunate mix-up with Ravindra Jadeja, Pandya was sadly run out.
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While Pandya could not win India the match, he won the hearts of Indians all over the world. Pandya has now firmly established himself as a part of the Indian national side, in both the tests as well as limited overs side.
And his fan following has taken off, as the Baroda boy is quickly turning into a national heart throb. So much so, that Suresh Raina has even called him the Neymar of India.
But Pandya has brushed aside those claims, as he says that he is a simple boy who is serious about his cricket.
“I might look like a guy who does everything but at the end of the day I am the guy who does nothing. I just look like I am a party person, who might not be disciplined, but I have a focus on the game and that is always there. What gives you the impression that I am a party guy? I hardly leave my room.”
Pandya recently made headlines after he became very active on social media with Bollywood actress Parineeti Chopra. The nature of the exchanges between the two stars led to rampant speculation about a blossoming romance between the two.
Pandya though has put an end to these rumours.
“I don’t have any more to answer on this. The thing is I don’t even know her properly… we have never spoken before and then I see this on Twitter that some love thing is starting and I was like where did this even come from?” Pandya further added.
“And then when I saw the reply… It was for a phone company and see that’s how people create things. I’m pretty happy; I laugh these things off because I’m a pretty happy soul! I enjoy all this now,” he concluded.
