Sanjay Manjrekar's Defense of Hardik Pandya Vindicated by T20 World Cup Heroics

Sanjay Manjrekar's impassioned defense of Hardik Pandya at the Wankhede Stadium stemmed from his unwavering belief in the all-rounder's ability to perform under pressure. Despite facing relentless jeers from the crowd following his appointment as Mumbai Indians captain, Pandya's subsequent heroics in India's T20 World Cup triumph have vindicated Manjrekar's stance.

Manjrekar's intervention during the toss at a home match of MI at the Wankhede was met with mockery on social media. However, Pandya's crucial contributions to India's second T20 World Cup victory, with 144 runs and 11 wickets, have silenced the critics.

"What a turnaround for Hardik Pandya," Manjrekar told 'ESPNCricinfo'. "In IPL, there were people jeering him and booing him and I told them to behave because this is a big-stage player."

Manjrekar's faith in Pandya's ability to perform under pressure was evident in his crucial wicket of Heinrich Klaasen, which turned the tide of the match in India's favor. "We have seen that umpteen times, wickets of Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller and right at the end, Rabada, so he was a champion and no surprise, to see him flourish on the big stage," Manjrekar said.

Manjrekar also highlighted Pandya's importance to the Indian team, even during their disappointing loss to England in Adelaide during the 2022 tournament. "Even in that semifinal against England, he came in and gave India some hope with 60 off 33. So that's what he is all about."

"You felt safe when he came to bowl in the last over, he was not going to lose his nerves, he was going to bowl sensibly," he concluded.

Pandya's resurgence has not only silenced his critics but also cemented his status as a vital cog in the Indian team. His ability to perform under pressure and make match-winning contributions has proven Manjrekar's belief in him to be well-founded.

Tags: #HardikPandya, #SanjayManjrekar, #T20WorldCup, #MumbaiIndians, #Cricket