Hardik Pandya opens up on how he met Natasa Stankovic; who is ‘backbone’ of their family and more
Bengaluru: India all-rounder Hardik Pandya recently broke the news that he is set to become a father soon. His wife Natasa Stankovic is pregnant. He shared the pictures on Instagram on Sunday (May 31). Now, he has opened up on he met Natasa and how they, after dating and knowing each other, decided to get engaged on December 31, 2019.
Hardik and Serbian actress Natasa got engaged on December 31, 2019. The Indian all-rounder broke the news on social media, on New Year, 2020.
Hardik said even his parents were not aware about his engagement. "My parents also didn't know that I was getting engaged," he said.
"Two days before (the engagement), I told Krunal. I told him, 'I have had enough. I have found someone in my life who I love, I am becoming better'. They (family) backed me told do whatever you want," Hardik said.
Recently, he shared these images. He announced that Natasa is pregnant. During the coronavirus lockdown, Hardik and Natasa tied the knot.
Talking about their relationship while speaking on Cricbuzz, Hardik revealed that Natasa was not a fan of him.
When Harsha Bhogle asked him about Natasa and whether she is a fan of him, Hardik said, "She had no idea who I was."
"I got her by talking," Hardik recalled about their first meeting.
"She saw someone in a hat at a place where I met her, wearing a hat, a chain, a watch, at 1 am. So she thought he is 'alag prakaar ka aadmi aaya' (different kind of person came)," Hardik added.
"That is when I started talking to her, started knowing each other. Then, we started dating. Then got engaged on December 31," Hardik said.
Hardik said he is a family man. Further asked whether Natasa is the one who corrects him if there is a mistake, the Mumbai Indians (MI) player said, "We don't have that relationship. Someone who always corrects me, are four people. Now, Natasa comes and tells me in my room."
On the four key persons in the family, he said, "Krunal (Pandya), Pankhuri (Krunal's wife), my sister-in-law, she is like the backbone of our family. My brother also, Vaibhav. All these guys, we have a created one environment where there has to be someone who shows the real life not the bubble life."
"We don't like to do sugar coating. In our house, there is no Hardik Pandya the cricketer, Krunal Pandya the cricketer. In our family, there are few things that are supposed to happen and some are not," Hardik said.
Hardik also said Krunal is like his 'guru'.
Both Hardik and Krunal play for MI in IPL.
When Hardik announced the news of Natasa's pregnancy, cricketers and fans sent him wishes on social media. India captain Virat Kohli too had congratulated him.
Hardik is active on social media and often posts pictures and videos.