Name-Game : From Neymar Jr. to Kung Fu Pandya, the many nicknames of the Mumbai Indians all-rounder

Fast-bowling all-rounders are a rare commodity in Indian cricket. One such all-rounder Kapil Dev led India to 1983 World Cup title win. When Hardik Pandya burst into the scene, he made headlines as well. As he started delivering performances, he was compared to the legendary Dev. He has been given the responsibility to be Rohit Sharma's deputy in the T20 World Cup 2024. Hardik is considered as a utility player who isn't easily replacable. He has been often defined as a different character by his teammates in the Indian team but do you know his nickname in the dressing room?

Hardik’s nicknames

In a video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in 2016, Hardik revealed that his nickname is ‘Harry’. However, he said that his former teammate Suresh Raina compared him to Brazillian footballer Neymar Jr.

“My teammates call me anything they want but Raina bhai says that I’m India’s Neymar,” he said.

However, Hardik is often called 'Kung fu Pandya' in the commentary box by commentators and former cricketers for his agility on the field.

Mumbai Indians’ effect on Hardik

The Baroda-born all-rounder was roped in by Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2015 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) for his base price of Rs 10 lakh. On the back of performances in the IPL and domestic cricket, he made it into the Indian team. Over the years, he became an indespenseble part of MI team that went on to win five IPL trophies.

Success at Gujarat Titans

However, in 2022, Hardik moved to Gujarat Titans (GT) and donned the captaincy hat. The inexperienced captain led GT to their maiden title win in 2022. In the following season, he led GT to the final where they lost to MS Dhoni-led Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

The controversial comeback

After two successful seasons with GT, he returned to MI in a controversial trade. He also took over the captaincy from Rohit which led to him getting booed not just in away games but at the Wankhede Stadium. He had a forgettable first season as MI captain. Despite his dismal performances, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee picked him India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.

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