Hardik Pandya’s journey from struggling to afford proper meals to leading Mumbai Indians is straight-up inspiring. Back in 2015, MI owner Nita Ambani and her scouting team discovered Hardik and his brother Krunal at a domestic tournament, where they were grinding through financial struggles and surviving on Maggi noodles. But their hustle and hunger for success were unmatched.
At a recent event in Boston, Nita Ambani spilled the tea on MI’s talent scouting, recalling how she and her team attended matches in empty stadiums, searching for raw talent. One of those moments led them to Hardik.
She revealed that she bought him for just $10,000 at the IPL auction—an absolute steal. Fast forward to today, and he’s not just a star but the captain of MI, proving that hard work really does pay off.
Ambani also shared another iconic discovery—Jasprit Bumrah. She revealed that MI legend Lasith Malinga had tipped her off about a young bowler to watch out for. That young bowler turned out to be Bumrah, who went on to become India’s premier fast bowler. She also highlighted Tilak Varma as another success story from MI’s scouting program, calling Mumbai Indians “the nursery of cricket in India.”
After a stint with Gujarat Titans, where he won an IPL title as captain, Hardik made an emotional return to MI. In a heartfelt video, he told fans, “I am coming back to my family where it all started. Paltan, you supported me the first time, and I know you will back me once again.”
With Hardik leading MI, fans are hyped to see if he can bring the team back to dominance and add another title to their legacy.