'I dare anybody...': Ambati Rayudu warns against trolling Hardik Pandya post T20 World Cup heroics

India displayed a resilient performance to clinch victory over South Africa in the thrilling final of the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. Setting a target of 177, India's skipper Rohit Sharma’s early departure seemed to boost South Africa's morale. However, a determined Virat Kohli rose to the occasion with a stellar 76 off 59 balls. In response, South Africa fell short by 7 runs despite a valiant innings by Heinrich Klaasen. Player of the Match, Kohli's exceptional batting combined with Bumrah's impactful bowling sealed India's triumph, ending a long wait for the prestigious title. 

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Ambati Rayudu cautions fans against trolling Hardik Pandya following his stellar performance in the ICC T20 World Cup final

IPL 2024 saw the audience mock Hardik Pandya. Highlighting Pandya's value to the national squad, Ambati Rayudu aggressively challenged Indian supporters who booed him.

India beat South Africa 7 runs to win the T20 World Cup 2024 final. Heinrich Klaasen put up a great middle overs performance, but India held their cool. A key player, Pandya dismissed Klaasen in the 17th over and helped India win its first World Cup in 13 years by protecting 15 runs against David Miller in the last over.

After this victory, veteran cricket player Ambati Rayudu angrily denounced the way the supporters had treated Pandya during the IPL. Fans had been booing Pandya nonstop during the season when he replaced Rohit Sharma as Mumbai Indians captain. When this animosity started during his debut game at his home field, commentator Sanjay Manjrekar chastised the supporters for their behaviour. 

When Hardik Pandya had a difficult game, former Mumbai batter Ambati Rayudu showed his support by going to the Mumbai dressing room to console him. One day after the match, MI posted a video on their social media account featuring Rayudu, an IPL icon who spent a lot of time in Chennai and Mumbai.

Rayudu publicly chastised the supporters on Saturday for how they had treated Pandya. He complimented Pandya's mental toughness for holding up under trying conditions. On StarSports Ambati Rayudu said: 

“I think it is great on his part. Such great mental strength and now I dare anybody to boo him in India. You know, if you can. If you can try and do that, you will know you will know it and he is an amazing individual and I have played with him, you know, in my state team. And he's an amazing guy, an amazing human being, and that's why that's why he could come through this storm, get through this storm that he had just a few months back and to come back that strongly is unbelievable and you know he's a world champion now,”

"He's been a match winner for India for a very, very long time and today he has shown it again. You know his value in the fight by picking that wicket of Klaasen and then totally finishing the game for India. Look at that. Look at that emotion," 

When Hardik Pandya won the T20 World Cup, he was emotional and overwhelmed by the accomplishment. Once dubbed India's public enemy number one, Pandya's comeback to become a world champion is a model of tenacity and atoning. The result of years of commitment and tenacity were his happy tears.

One of the most famous incidents in recent Indian cricket history was created when Rohit Sharma came forward amid the team's celebrations, hugging Pandya and kissing him on the forehead.