'Meet Hardik Pandya, he is going to play very soon': Dinner-table prediction that proved right - WATCH
Hardik Pandya once again named domestic legend Wasim Jaffer as his idol at the Naman Awards, recalling their first meeting at an Irfan Pathan dinner in 2014-15. Pandya, then an emerging talent, expressed his admiration for Jaffer's batting style. Jaffer, who amassed nearly 20,000 first-class runs, acknowledged Pandya's continued respect.
NEW DELHI: It was at an intimate dinner hosted by Irfan Pathan that a young, dynamic Hardik Pandya was first introduced to one of his idols — Wasim Jaffer. Years later, the India all-rounder’s admiration for the domestic stalwart has only grown stronger, with Pandya once again naming Jaffer as his cricketing idol at the Naman Awards. While Jaffer represented India just 33 times, his legacy was built in domestic cricket, where he scored nearly 20,000 first-class runs over a remarkable 25-year career.
Recalling his first interaction with Pandya, Jaffer went back to the 2014–15 Ranji Trophy season, when Mumbai faced Baroda and Pandya was still an emerging talent. Speaking on his Instagram profile, Jaffer said: "The first time I met him was during the 2014 or 2015 Ranji season. Mumbai were playing Baroda in Baroda.
Irfan (Pathan), Yusuf (Pathan), and Munaf (Patel) were playing in the opposition team. I was not playing that match because I was injured, but I traveled with the team. ” “I remember that we went to Irfan's house for dinner, and that is when I met Hardik and Krunal for the first time,” said Jaffer.
"Irfan told me, 'Meet Hardik, he is going to play very soon. ’ And I think he was picked by the Mumbai Indians that season itself. ” At the time, Pandya was just beginning to make a name for himself, but his admiration for Jaffer was already evident.