• Hardik Pandya has revealed why his jersey number is 33 for Team India.

  • Pandya also named the first person he calls after a match-winning performance.

World Cup 2023: Hardik Pandya reveals the secret behind his jersey number; unveils his favourite cricketing shot
Hardik Pandya reveals the secret behind his jersey number (Image Source: Twitter)

Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently got engaged in a candid Q&A session with Star Sports, where he revealed some intriguing details about his cricket journey.

Secret behind Hardik’s Jersey No. 33

Among the several questions, he was asked about his jersey number and the reason behind it.

Pandya disclosed that his jersey number, 33, is a result of his desire to have the number 3. However, he couldn’t claim it as two cricketing legends, Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina, had already chosen it. To improvise, Pandya decided to merge two 3’s to create his unique jersey number, 33.

“My jersey number is 33. The story behind it was I wanted 3 but Harbhajan Singh and Suresh Raina had it, so I decided why not merge two 3’s and make it 33,” explained Pandya.

Pandya’s favourite cricketing shot

When asked about his favourite shot in cricket, Pandya showcased his aggressive style by stating that any shot that results in a six is his favourite. For him, hitting a six in any direction is the most exhilarating moment on the cricket field.

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“My favorite shot is whenever the ball goes for a six, and it could be in any direction. So, my favorite memory also would be whenever my six has been in international cricket,” he added.

The first call after a match-winning performance

In the interview, Pandya was also quizzed about the first person whom he calls after a match-winning performance. The right-hander promptly named his brother, Krunal Pandya, as the recipient of that coveted first call. The Baroda-lad emphasized the importance of discussing the game with Krunal, analyzing what went well and what could have been done better.

“It is always my brother Krunal, and my wife and my sister-in-law, but first would be Krunal. He would message me or anything. It’s more about ‘I did this well or what could’ve been better,’ so, eventually, the first call would be Krunal,” Pandya explained.

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