Former Team India cricketer Wasim Jaffer recalled the first time he met premier all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Recollecting the time, the former cricketer said that he met Pandya at Irfan Pathan`s house for dinner.
“The first time I met him was during the 2014 or 2015 Ranji season. Mumbai were playing Baroda in Baroda. Irfan, Yusuf, and Munaf were playing in the opposition team. I was not playing that match because I was injured, but I travelled with the team. It was my last season with Mumbai. I shifted to Vidarbha after that. I remember that we went to Irfan`s house for dinner, and that is when I met Hardik and Krunal (Hardik`s brother) for the first time,” he said.
He then said that Irfan introduced Hardik to him by saying that he is the player who will soon be playing.
“Irfan told me, `Is se milo, ye Hardik hai, bahut jaldi khelne wala hai (He is Hardik, meet him, he is going to play very soon).` And I think he was picked by Mumbai Indians that season itself. Irfan told me that he is a big fan of mine. Hardik himself said, `Main aapki batting bahut dekhta hoon aur mujhe bahut apka khelne ka andaz pasand hai (I watch your batting a lot and I really like the way you play),” said Jaffer.
The 48-year-old former cricketer also said that it is nice of Hardik that he still names him as his inspiration.
“It is very nice of him that woh abhi bhi itne bade stars ke samne woh mera naam lete hai (he still names me as an inspiration in front of big stars). And that is why there has been so much news about who Wasim Jaffer is. People keep hearing other names very often, but they might not remember Wasim Jaffer because I made a name for myself in First-Class cricket,” he signed off.
Hardik Pandya will soon be in action for the Mumbai Indians (MI) ahead of the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The “Paltan” will begin their campaign by playing a clash against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) on March 29 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
(With ANI Inputs)
