Indian star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, after winning the 2025 Champions Trophy on Sunday, has already set his sights on the 2026 T20 World Cup in India. Throughout the competition, Hardik Pandya excelled with the bat and the ball as India defeated New Zealand by four wickets in the Dubai final.
Given their crushing 180-run loss to bitter rivals Pakistan in the 2017 summit match, this was India’s third Champions Trophy victory, and maybe one of the sweetest. In the 339-run chase, Pandya had played a maturing knock of 76 off 43 balls. However, he was run out, and India fell to 158.
Axar Patel (109 runs in five matches with five wickets), KL Rahul (140 runs in five games at an average of 140.00), Varun Chakravarthy (nine wickets), Shubman Gill (188 runs in five matches with a century), and Shreyas Iyer (243 runs in five games with two fifties) were among the many current and future stars who played a significant part in India’s second consecutive white-ball title victory.
Hardik Pandya Wants More ICC Trophies Under His Belt
“[In] 2017, the work was left. You know I could not finish the job back then. And I am very very glad that tonight is the night where I can say that you know what, I am a champions trophy winner as well. So, sounds good I think.” Pandya told the ICC.
“For me it has always been about winning as many championships as I can. I did say when we won in 2024 that this is not done, I still need 5-6 more trophies there. I am very happy that one more is added. The most important thing in my life and my cricketing journey has always been about how I can make sure that my team can win.”
‘This was for Bharat’- Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya scored 99 runs and picked up four wickets across five matches in the tournament but, like the rest of the team, his contributions seemed small and came in crucial moments.
“And it’s very very satisfying, very very calming, very very happy moment for me that every time I step on the field. You know, somehow even if I don’t [perform] and the team wins, I think that’s the most beautiful feeling which I have. Everyone came out there and you know showed their class at the same point of time, the belief which they have,” he said.
“I love wins like this where everyone comes there, puts their heart out and you know I think this was for India, this was for Bharat. The champions trophy is done, next goal ICC T20 World Cup in India, lifting the cup.”
Hardik Pandya will now be seen in action in IPL 2025 where he’ll lead the Mumbai Indians.