How Hardik Pandya’s ‘maggi story’ inspired Aniket Verma: SRH star’s uncle reveals-OxBig News Network

Sunrisers Hyderabad star Aniket Verma’s uncle revealed that the 23-year-old was inspired by Hardik Pandya’s famous maggi story and considers the Mumbai Indians captain to be his hero. Hardik, much like Aniket, came from a humble background, before becoming a vital cog in the Indian white-ball setup. The all-rounder and his brother, Krunal, had spent three years living on maggi noodles as they went around Baroda playing locla tournaments.

Aniket’s uncle, Amit, in an exclusive interview, with The Times Of India revealed that he told the story to Aniket when he was 14, and they were heading to the academy for training. He said that he saw a hunger inside the SRH star at that time.

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“Aniket must have been 14 back then. I read it in a newspaper and told him the story while we were on our way to his academy,” said Amit. “That day, I saw the spirit, the passion, and the hunger in him. He wanted to make it big. Once we reached the stadium, he touched my feet and said, ‘I complain about trivial things.’ I laughed, but he was serious.”

Amit also told a story about how he bought Aniket a pair of new shoes as he was playing with torn ones at that time. Aniket’s uncle said that the SRH star slept with his new shoes that day.

My first job was at an automobile showroom. My salary was Rs 3,000. He was playing with torn shoes. I immediately took him to the shop and bought him sports shoes that cost Rs 1,200. I had never wom something that expensive in my life, but for him, I would have done anything. He slept with his new shoes that day,” said Amit.

Aniket Verma shines for SRH

While SRH’s start to the new season has been a shaky one, Aniket has been impressive so far. Having impressed everyone during the intra-squad matches, Aniket was drafted into the playing XI right from the first game and he has been attacking bowlers with his aggressive batting.

Aniket’s best knock came against Delhi Capitals when he scored 74 off 41 balls.

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