[Watch] Hardik Pandya dances with Bollywood actress Ananya Pandey at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding ceremony
Team India T20I vice-captain Hardik Pandya was recently spotted dancing with Bollywood actress Ananya Pandey at Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant's wedding ceremony. The event is taking place at Jio World Centre in Bandra Kurla Centre (BKC) in Mumbai's central business district.
Pandya was last on the cricket field during the 2024 T20 World Cup on June 29, when India beat South Africa in the final to win the trophy. The star cricketer played a crucial role in India's title-winning campaign with his all-round contributions. He scalped 11 wickets with the ball while scoring 144 runs at a strike rate of 151, doing the finisher's role well for the team.
Hardik Pandya is currently on a mini break from the sport after the World Cup. He attended the wedding festivities of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant in Mumbai. He is close to the Ambani family as he captains their Mumbai Indians (MI) franchise in IPL. Hardik enjoyed himself at the ceremony by dancing with Ananya Pandey and others.
You can watch the moment in the video below:
"It's been a special journey to remember for a lifetime" - Irfan Pathan on Hardik Pandya's difficult journey from IPL to 2024 T20 World Cup
Former Indian bowling all-rounder Irfan Pathan opined that Hardik Pandya made a special comeback in the 2024 T20 World Cup after enduring difficult times during IPL.
Pathan acknowledged that he was also among the ones who criticized Pandya during IPL, but the Baroda all-rounder silenced everyone with his performances in the World Cup. Speaking on Star Sports, Irfan Pathan said:
"It's been a special journey for Hardik Pandya. Coming back from all the criticism, I was actually the one who criticized him because he was not performing during the IPL time. He was making a lot of mistakes at that time. When I see his journey leading up to this World Cup, it reminds me of my journey as well because I remember I was dropped from the team before the 2007 T20 World Cup."
Recollecting his journey through hurdles before the 2007 World Cup, Pathan continued:
"I was playing for India A in Zimbabwe and Kenya. I was actually going through a hardship where I really struggled with my body and hard work. I remember going to the MRF Pace Foundation and working in the quietness, and that journey is very similar to Hardik's because he went through a lot as far as performance, criticism and booing are concerned. It's been a special journey to remember for a lifetime."
Hardik Pandya is reportedly set to return to the field during the upcoming Sri Lanka tour as captain of the Indian T20I side.