The all-rounder turned the tide in India's favour in the last over, which saw the Men in Blue come out on top in the thrilling showdown. His redemption arc was indeed a testament to his mental strength. His journey from having an incredibly tough IPL campaign to pulling off the trigger in the T20 World Cup 2024 is worth applauding. The 30-year-old faced immense criticism during the IPL 2024 season. Taking over the captaincy from Rohit Sharma for the Mumbai Indians, he lacked the spark to lead the team from the vanguard, culminating in a bottom-place finish. Fans and critics alike were vocal about the Mumbai Indians' series of failures and Pandya's leadership abilities were questioned. Despite the setbacks, Pandya made a stellar rebound by showing resilience and determination throughout the T20 World Cup 2024. With all-round brilliance, he contributed significantly with both bat and ball. From playing small cameos to hitting powerful sixes against the wind to taking crucial wickets, he was nothing short of a marvel. Overall, he mustered 144 runs and accounted for 11 dismissals throughout the tournament. His performances were instrumental in India's success, making him a clutch player in their journey to winning the title. When 16 runs were required off the last over, Indian captain Rohit Sharma tossed the ball to Hardik Pandya and the all-rounder, with nerves of steel, turned the entire complexion of the game by dismissing the dangerous David Miller, which relieved a truckload of pressure. The job wasn't done yet because Kagiso Rabada was looking to swing the blade on every possible attempt. Nevertheless, Hardik found a way to dismiss Rabada in the penultimate ball. South Africa tried their best but not enough to sail across the finishing line. Team India won the game by 7 runs in the high-voltage encounter, courtesy of Hardik Pandya's mental resilience, who not only silenced the naysayers but also displayed his prowess under pressure and became a clutch player for India.