Hardik Himanshu Pandya is an Indian batting all-rounder and currently the white ball vice-captain who debuted for India in January 2016. He has become one of the most influential cricketers in Indian cricket. Hardik Pandya is endorsing several brands and earning a major chunk of money from those advertisements and campaigns. In this blog, we will talk about the journey of Hardik Pandya from becoming a local star to a modern-day icon. We will also highlight the net worth of Hardik Pandya to showcase his growth trajectory year-on-year.
According to multiple authentic sources, Hardik Pandya’s Net Worth in 2023 stood at Rs. 91 Crores. Sources of his income are BCCI annual contracts, IPL contracts, and other brand endorsement contracts.
Early-Life, Success, and Struggles: Birth and Family Background
Before talking about Hardik Pandya’s net worth, let’s first talk about his life and early-day struggles. Hardik Pandya was born on October 11, 1993, in Gujarat’s Surat. Hardik comes from a modest background; his father, Mr. Himanshu Pandya, ran a small car finance business. He has an elder brother who has also represented India in the limited-overs formats.
Education and Cricket Beginnings
Pandya attended the MK High School in Baroda, but his focus was never on the books but on the bats and balls. As his focus shifted from studies to cricket, both Hardik and Krunal were encouraged by their father, and then the family moved to Baroda to provide better cricketing opportunities for his sons.
After shifting to Baroda, the Pandya brothers joined the Kiran More International Cricket Academy. Mr. More, a former Indian Wicket-Keeper Batsman, identified their potential and hunger and provided them with the necessary training and guidance. Initially, Hardik played as a leg-spinner before turning into a fast-bowling all-rounder. His ability to run and bowl at a quick pace alongside a highly destructive performance with the bat made him a valuable asset in the shorter formats of the game.
State to Ranji to IPL to INDIA
Born in Surat and brought up in Baroda, Hardik Pandya was always a hard-working individual with a never-giving attitude. This attitude helped him to fix his place in the domestic circuit in 2013. He first played in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and performed really well. His performance in the domestic T20 tournaments caught the eye of selectors, and he soon became a regular member of the Baroda team in various formats.
Things must’ve gone real quick for Hardik, as his Ranji Trophy debut came during the 2013-14 season. Though his performance was not as remarkable as he would’ve hoped, he steadily improved his performance and eventually got picked by Mumbai Indians in the 2015 IPL edition. At this point in time, Hardik Pandya’s net worth was not as significant as it is today.
Soon after his inclusion in the MI squad and steady performance, BCCI decided to make him a part of the ICC T20 World Cup 2016, which was played in India. He did not fail to meet the expectations as his magical bowling overcame the set Bangladeshi batters. The opposition needed 11 runs in the last 6 balls, and Pandya conceded 9 runs in the first 3 balls.
Then, something unexpected happened: he took 2 wickets on 2 consecutive deliveries and bowled the last ball outside the off stump as Dhoni rushed towards the stumps and shattered the bails. India eventually snatched the victory from the jaws of defeat. Many people remember this match because of Dhoni’s lightning sprint, and there are very few who praise Hardik for his brilliant over in difficult circumstances.
From then on, his performance only improved with time. In 2017, the occasion was the ICC Champions Trophy Final between arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Pakistan batted first and posted a mammoth total of 338. In response, the Indian Top and Middle Order failed terribly but it was Pandya who was standing in between the trophy and Pakistan. He was batting fearlessly before a mix-up with Jadeja led to a run-out. With the help of 4 fours and 6 sixes, he scored 76 runs in just 43 deliveries.
Koffee With Karan turned out to be a turning point for Hardik Pandya
By 2019, Hardik Pandya’s net worth was increasing, and so was his performance across all the formats of the game. Just when Hardik was having a great time both on and off the field, his interview aired alongside KL Rahul in Koffee with Karan. A couple of questions were answered by Pandya. His reckless behavior and inappropriate words led this interview to go viral for this normal yet infamous conversation and remarks. This eventually forced the BCCI to take action against KL Rahul and Hardik Pandya and suspended them from the remainder of the Australian tour and then the upcoming limited-overs tour of New Zealand.
Things were getting out of hand as Pandya faced a backlash on social media and by many existing and former Indian cricketers. Yet, he came back stronger than ever before and displayed a remarkable show of batting, bowling, and fielding masterclass. In the 2019 edition of IPL, he was truly exceptional as he went on to score 402 runs with a blistering strike rate of 191.41, took 14 wickets, and helped Mumbai Indians to win yet another IPL Title.
Then came the Year 2022, when Pandya left Mumbai Indians and Joined a new team called Gujarat Titans as the Skipper. Pandya’s captaincy skills became one of the key highlights of that edition as Gujarat Titans won the title in their debut season. By 2022, Hardik Pandya’s net worth in rupees was increasing rapidly as Gujarat Titans picked him for Rs. 15 Crore. He played for Gujarat Titans for 2 seasons and helped the team to reach the finals both times.
BOOOOO! BOOOOO! BOOOOO!
Well, what happened in the 2024 edition of IPL was really a disheartening moment for every former and existing cricketer out there. Hardik joined Mumbai Indians back for the same amount of 15 Crore with the same role of captaincy. Rohit Sharma led Mumbai Indians to win 5 titles, and fans were clearly upset about the fact that he now had to play under Pandya.
Many people called him greedy, power obsessive, politician, and other remarks such as chapri and all. This was the first time when a player got booed on every ground, against every opposition. This was not something that Pandya was hoping for, but it is what it is. On top of this, there are rumours that Hardik Pandya’s wife, Natasha Stankovic, is separating after 4 years of marriage. Nothing is confirmed yet, but rumours say that Hardik will have to transfer 75% of his income/assets/properties to Natasha Stankovic.
Hardik Pandya: From Early Struggle Days to High Net WorthAs Hardik Pandya is named as the vice-captain of the Indian white-ball cricket team, we are hoping for his better physical and mental health so that he can perform well on this big occasion. Now, coming back to the most exciting part of the blog, let us look at how Hardik Pandya’s net worth has increased with his improved game.
Let’s take an idea of how Hardik Pandya’s net worth in Rupees increased with time
Hardik Pandya’s Net Worth Increased with BCCI Central Contracts
BCCI classifies players into 4 different grades for central contracts, each with varying levels of remuneration. These grades are:
- Grade A+ – INR 7 Crore Annually
- Grade A – INR 5 Crore Annually
- Grade B – INR 3 Crore Annually
- Grade C – INR 1 Crore Annually
- In 2017-2018, Hardik was placed in the lower grades initially. He was given the C category by the BCCI. This means that Hardik was annually paid INR 1 Crore, being a part of the Grade C category.
- In 2018-2019, BCCI awarded Hardik Pandya with category B as his constant match-winning and impactful performances impressed everyone. In limited-overs cricket, his all-round abilities were highly valued, making him a crucial part of the squad in various series and tournaments.
- In 2019-2020, Pandya was promoted to a Grade A contract. This was the time when Hardik Pandya’s net worth witnessed a spike, backed by the BCCI central contract, earnings from IPL, and brand endorsements.
- Hardik Pandya has been among the list of very few cricketers in the Indian cricket team who, despite facing several injuries, remain to be a part of the Grade A category.
- In addition to the annual retainer, Pandya earns match fees for every game he plays for India. For test matches – he earns INR 15 Lakh per match, for ODI – INR 6 Lakh per match, and for T20I – 3 Lakh per match.
A Major Jump in the Net Worth of Hardik Pandya came through IPL
IPL has changed the lives of many, and Hardik Pandya is one of them. Basically, from no record of Hardik Pandya’s net worth to getting 15 crores in a season of the IPL, his success story is something else.
- Got Picked by Mumbai Indians for INR 10 Lakhs.
- Remained at the same price of INR 10 Lakhs in the 2016 and 2017 IPL seasons.
- Got a significant hike in 2018 as Mumbai Indians paid him INR 11 Crore till 2021.
- Picked by Gujarat Titans for INR 15 Crore in 2022.
- Remained with Gujarat Titans for the same price in 2023.
- Got Back to Mumbai Indians for INR 15 Crore in 2024.
As per the reports, Hardik Pandya’s net worth in rupees is 91 Crores. Apart from Central Contracts from BCCI and significant IPL earnings, Hardik Pandya’s net worth is also increased by several brand endorsements. He endorses brands like Hyundai, The Souled Store, Dream11, Van Heusen, Gulf, Boat, Gatorade, BGMI, POCO, BigMuscles, Lenden, and so on.
