"Wanted To Come Back But...": Hardik Pandya's Emotional Remark, Namedrops Rahul Dravid

Hardik Pandya's downward spiral started last year against Bangladesh in a 50-over World Cup game but the star all-rounder always believed that fortune favours the brave if they hang around. First it was back-to-back injuries that kept him out for four months and then a very rocky two months in the IPL as MI skipper, there was no silver lining for India's best all-rounder in contemporary times until this T20 World Cup, where regained his mojo.

“I have been fortunate to play for the country, it was a freak injury I had, I wanted to come back but God had other plans,” Pandya said after scoring a 27-ball-50 and taking a wicket in India's 50-run victory over Bangladesh.

Incidentally, it was against Bangladesh, albeit in a different World Cup format, Pandya walked away with an injury.

“I was speaking to our coach Rahul sir (Dravid) and he said 'Luck comes to people who work hard' and that has stuck with me for a long time,” Pandya, who won the Player of the Match award this day, said.

“We have played really good cricket. More than anything we have stuck together and executed our plans.”

Earlier, Pandya's half-century and contributions from Virat Kohli (37), Rishabh Pant (36) and Shivam Dube (34) took India to 196 for 5 after being put into bat.

He had predicted at the break that it would be enough.

“Wicket looked alright, par would've been 180, we got 196. That's a good score here,” Pandya told broadcasters at the innings break.

He also praised Dube, who has so far struggled, for playing a composed innings under pressure.

“At the point Shivam went (in), a couple of wickets were lost. He had to take his time and we did well to recover. His strength is to take down spinners.

“When the time came, when we could go hard, we went