Last seven months were toughest, now my focus is on IPL, World Cup: Pandya

Pandya, who smashed an 8-ball 25 not out and then picked up three wickets to power MI to a 37-run win over CSK, dedicated the man of the match award-winning performance to those who stood by him

Sports News:India and Mumbai Indians all-rounder Hardik Pandya termed the last seven months as the toughest period of his life when he “did not know what to do” in the wake of the controversy surrounding his outrage-evoking comments on women.

Pandya, who helped MI beat Chennai Super Kings in an IPL game in Mumbai, was initially suspended by the BCCI and sent back to India from the Australia tour following his comments on a chat show earlier this year. Later, the suspension was provisionally lifted pending an inquiry. The 25-year-old said he has left behind the controversy.

“It feels pretty good to help the team to win and contribute. It’s been seven months that I’ve hardly played games. They weren’t easy and I didn’t know what to do. I’ve just batted and batted. I want to improve my game every day. It’s a fantastic feeling batting like that and making your team win,” he said. Pandya, who smashed an 8-ball 25 not out and then picked up three wickets to power MI to a 37-run win over Chennai Super Kings, dedicated the man of the match award-winning performance to those who stood by him.

“I was out with injury and then some other controversy happened. I want to dedicate this Man of the Match to my family and friends, who stood with me in the toughest times,” Pandya said at the post-match presentation ceremony Wednesday night..

Pandya, Rahul apologise unconditionally, but many in BCCI are not impressed

The road to redemption for the duo could prove to be a tricky. Rai has instructed BCCI CEO Rahul Johri to carry out a preliminary inquiry but Board members along with Edulji want otherwise.

Current Affairs: Suspended cricketers Hardik Pandya and KL Rahul Monday tendered “unconditional” apologies for their sexist comments during a TV chat show amid CoA chief Vinod Rai saying that the BCCI should correct the two players, not end their careers.

However, despite the apologies tendered by the duo, 10 BCCI units demanded a Special General Meeting to appoint an ombudsman for carrying out an inquiry. Rai’s fellow Committee of Administrators (CoA) member Diana Edulji wants an inquiry done by CoA and the BCCI office-bearers.

“Yes, Hardik and Rahul have submitted their reply to the fresh showcause notices that were served to them. They have tendered unconditional apology. The CoA chief has instructed the CEO to conduct an inquiry as per clause 41 (c) of the new BCCI constitution,” a senior BCCI official told PTI on conditions of anonymity.

Edulji fears a “cover up” in the controversy, triggered by Pandya and Rahul’s much-condemned statements on ‘Koffee with Karan’ in which they spoke about hookups with multiple women and being casual about it even with their parents. The comments have been described as “inappropriate” by India skipper Virat Kohli.

Brought back midway from the tour of Australia, Pandya and Rahul’s immediate fate hangs in balance with the World Cup less than four months away. Rai, in an e-mail to Edulji, said that the “BCCI is not in the business of ending young careers”. “Please be assured that the desire to conduct the inquiry is not a desire to ‘cover up’. The interest of cricket in India has to be kept in mind. The off the ground act of the players was deplorable. It was crass as I said immediately after reading the comments,” Rai wrote….

Read More: Hardik Pandya K L Rahul Controversy