Before IPL 2024, rumors of a rift between Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya dominated headlines.

Throughout the season, Hardik faced relentless trolling from fans and was even booed during matches. However, the narrative shifted dramatically after the T20 World Cup 2024, where both stars played pivotal roles.

Rohit breaks silence on viral kiss with Pandya

Following India’s title win, Rohit was seen kissing Hardik on the field—a moment that went viral.

Now, for the first time, Rohit has spoken about that gesture. In a conversation with JioHotstar, he said, “This was an emotional moment. Hardik is my man, he did the job for me and the team otherwise we would've been sitting without anything in our hands.”

Rohit Sharma said, "this was an emotional moment. Hardik is my man, he did the job for me and the team otherwise we would've been sitting without anything in our hands". (JioHotstar). pic.twitter.com/L2XEZ7Dgb0

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 26, 2025

Hardik, once under heavy criticism, has since silenced doubters with match-winning performances.

He played key roles not just in the T20 World Cup but also in the 2025 Champions Trophy, where India lifted another trophy. While he didn’t become India’s next captain, his status as a big-match player is now firmly established. More importantly, the camaraderie between him and Rohit has only grown stronger.

India clinched the ICC T20 World Cup 2024 title in spectacular fashion, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final.

The match, held in Barbados, saw India defend a competitive total of 176 runs. Key performances came from Virat Kohli, who anchored the innings with a brilliant half-century, and Jasprit Bumrah, who delivered crucial breakthroughs during the tense chase.

However, it was Hardik Pandya’s composed final over that sealed the win by just 7 runs. This victory ended India’s 17-year wait for a T20 World Cup title and marked a glorious farewell for legends Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja.