Full Name: Hardik Himanshu Pandya
Nickname(s): Kung Fu Pandya
Date of Birth: October 11, 1993
Place of Birth: Surat, Gujarat, India
Nationality: Indian
Profession: Cricketer
Batting Style: Right-Handed
Bowling Style: Right-arm Fast-Medium
Role in Team: All-rounder (Batting & Bowling)
Jersey Number: 33
Net Worth: 91 crore
Early Life & Education:
Hardik Pandya was born in Surat, Gujarat, into a middle-class family. Before relocating to Vadodara to help Hardik and his older brother Krunal Pandya with their cricketing endeavours, his father, Himanshu Pandya, operated a little auto financing company.
Despite having financial difficulties, he studied at Kiran More’s Cricket Academy in Vadodara. Hardik used to play with a used bat while the Pandya family was living in a tiny rental home. He persisted in pursuing his goal of playing cricket for his country in spite of these obstacles.
Personal Life:
Father: Himanshu Pandya (Businessman, passed away in 2021)
Mother: Nalini Pandya (Homemaker)
Brother: Krunal Pandya (Cricketer, all-rounder)
Wife: Natasa Stankovic (Serbian actress, married in 2020)
Son: Agastya Pandya (Born in 2020)
Physical Stats:
- Height: 6 feet 0 inches (183 cm)
- Weight: Approx. 75 kg (165 lbs)
- Eye Color: Dark Brown
- Hair Color: Black
Cricket Career:
Debut Matches:
- First-Class Debut: 2013 (Baroda in Ranji Trophy)
- IPL Debut: 2015 (Mumbai Indians)
- T20I Debut: January 26, 2016, vs Australia
- ODI Debut: October 16, 2016, vs New Zealand
- Test Debut: July 26, 2017, vs Sri Lanka
Major Achievements & Records:
- Fastest half-century in ICC Champions Trophy final history (2017) – 43 balls vs Pakistan
- First Indian to take 4 wickets and score 30+ runs in a T20 World Cup match (2022 vs England)
- Only Indian to score a Test century before lunch (108 vs Sri Lanka, 2017)
- Led Gujarat Titans to IPL title in 2022 (Captain in debut season)
- First captain to lead a new IPL team to a title in its first season (GT, 2022)
- Vice-captain of the Indian T20 team (2022-Present), Captain in limited-overs series
Captaincy Record:
- IPL: Led Gujarat Titans (2022-2023) to 1 title & 1 runners-up finish
- India T20I Captain (2022-Present): Led India in several T20I series
Awards & Honors:
- Emerging Player of IPL (2015, Mumbai Indians)
- Man of the Match in 2017 Champions Trophy Final (Despite India losing)
- Led Gujarat Titans to IPL 2022 title in their debut season
- BCCI’s Best T20I Player of the Year (2022)
IPL Career:
- Teams: Mumbai Indians (2015-2021), Gujarat Titans (2022-2023), Mumbai Indians (2024-Present)
- Captaincy: Gujarat Titans (2022-2023), Mumbai Indians (2024-Present)
- Highest Score: 91* vs Kolkata Knight Riders (2019)
- Best Bowling Figures: 3/17 vs Chennai Super Kings (2019)
Legacy & Influence:
One of India’s most versatile players, Hardik Pandya is renowned for his aggressive batting, quick bowling, and leadership abilities. His path from financial hardship to become one of India’s most important cricket players is incredibly motivating.
