India national cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya revealed that former India opener Wasim Jaffer was his childhood cricketing idol. Pandya made the revelation during a rapid-fire interaction at a recent awards ceremony organized by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) in New Delhi on Sunday, March 15, 2026. The session, hosted by veteran broadcaster Harsha Bhogle, featured several cricketers sharing the players who inspired them while growing up.

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While many expected Pandya to name icons such as Sachin Tendulkar or Yuvraj Singh, the all-rounder said he admired Jaffer during his formative years in the sport.

Other players participating in the session named different inspirations. Sanju Samson cited Tendulkar as his childhood idol, while Abhishek Sharma picked Yuvraj Singh, who now works with him as a mentor. Young batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi named Brian Lara and Yuvraj as his inspirations.

Who is Wasim Jaffer?

Jaffer enjoyed a successful domestic career and represented India in 30 Test matches between 2000 and 2008, scoring nearly 2,000 runs, including five centuries. He remains the leading run-scorer in the history of India’s premier domestic competition, the Ranji Trophy, and played for Mumbai and Vidarbha during his long first-class career.

Pandya recently played a key role in India’s triumph at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. The all-rounder scored 217 runs and took nine wickets during the tournament as India secured the title.

Pandya is now set to lead Mumbai Indians (MI) in the upcoming Indian Premier League 2026 season. The five-time champions will begin their campaign against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday March 29, 2026.