‘I am only just getting started’: Hardik Pandya reflects on decade-long India journey with nostalgic video montage

NEW DELHI: Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya marked a significant milestone in his career on Monday, reflecting on completing 10 years in international cricket and insisting that his journey with India is far from over.

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Hardik, who made his international debut against Australia in an ODI at Adelaide on Republic Day in 2016, took to Instagram to share an emotional message on completing a decade at the highest level. “10 years of this journey, the year I turn 33. It is one thing to play the sport I love with all my heart, and it is another to be able to serve my country through it,” Hardik wrote.




Expressing gratitude for the challenges that shaped him, he added, “I love you all, thank you for everything. Thank you God for the trials and tribulations that got me here… The chances that so many people took… The opportunity to live this life.”

Far from sounding reflective or content, Hardik stressed that he sees this phase as a new beginning. “This year has taught me that this is merely the beginning. I am only just getting started on the path I truly wish to walk,” he said.

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Looking back at his formative years, Hardik spoke about the sacrifices and setbacks that defined his rise. He recalled being “a young Hardik running an extra few miles to get to play from Baroda”, bowling extra balls in the nets, becoming an all-rounder at 19, and facing rejection along the way. “Getting to play for my desh has been the most worthwhile journey for me,” he wrote.

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“God had great plans for me when he let me debut on the 26th of January. I have become a man while playing this sport, and I will grow old playing it too,” Hardik concluded.

Since his debut, Hardik has been central to India’s white-ball success, winning the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. His standout performance came in the 2024 T20 World Cup, where he scored 144 runs at a strike rate above 151 and took 11 wickets, including the match-sealing wicket of David Miller in the final.

Across formats, Hardik’s numbers underline his impact: 1,904 ODI runs and 91 wickets, over 2,000 T20I runs, and a Test century — figures that reflect a career built on resilience, versatility and clutch moments.


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