Hardik Pandya Shares Surprising IPL Prank by Ricky Ponting
Pandya's Unexpected Revelation
Hardik Pandya recently disclosed an amusing incident from his early days in the IPL, where he was pranked by none other than Ricky Ponting. Joining the Mumbai Indians (MI) at a base price of Rs 10 lakh, Pandya quickly made a name for himself, becoming a capped player prior to the 2016 IPL season. He made his international debut for India in January 2016 and was part of the T20 World Cup squad that year. During his inaugural IPL season, Pandya excelled and garnered several accolades.
In a conversation with Harsha Bhogle at the BCCI awards on March 15, Pandya recounted how Ponting had jokingly informed him that he would receive the prize money for all the awards he earned. Excitedly, Pandya began to envision what he would purchase with his winnings, unaware that Ponting was pulling his leg. He later learned that the prize money is shared among players, regardless of individual achievements.
Ponting, who joined MI before the 2013 season, initially captained the team for the first six matches before transitioning to a coaching role. He worked closely with Pandya during the 2015 and 2016 seasons, before being succeeded by Mahela Jayawardene in 2017. After a stint with Delhi Capitals from 2018 to 2024, Ponting moved to Punjab Kings (PBKS) ahead of IPL 2025, guiding them to their first final since 2014.
Hardik Pandya's Journey in IPL
Hardik Pandya's IPL Career
Following his debut, Hardik Pandya's career skyrocketed, leading MI to retain him for Rs 11 crore ahead of the IPL 2018 mega-auction. However, in a surprising move, MI released him before the IPL 2022 auction. Pandya then took on the role of captain for Gujarat Titans (GT) in IPL 2022, leading them to victory in their inaugural season. In the IPL 2023 final, his team faced defeat against Chennai Super Kings.
In a surprising twist, Pandya made a return to MI through a trade and succeeded Rohit Sharma as captain before the IPL 2024 season. Despite his leadership, MI has yet to reach an IPL final under his captaincy. The current MI roster features T20 World Cup-winning captains, including Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav, presenting Pandya with a significant challenge ahead.