The Indian cricket team, after defeating South Africa 2-1 in the ODI series, started the five-match T20I series with a win. Hardik Pandya stole the show in the first T20I match played in Cuttack.
Returning to international cricket after nearly two and a half months, Hardik delivered an all-round performance, leading India to a 101-run victory over South Africa in the first T20 match.
Hardik first played a blistering innings with the bat, scoring 59 runs off 28 balls, helping India post a total of 175 for 6 wickets.
Following this, the Indian bowlers dismissed South Africa for their lowest T20 score of 74 runs. Hardik was chosen as the Player of the Match. A video of him, shared by the BCCI, shows him crediting his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, for his success after the match.
Hardik Pandya gives credit to Mahieka Sharma
In the video, Hardik first says,
"Injuries test you mentally and create many doubts in your mind. A large part of the credit for my successful comeback goes to my loved ones. Especially my partner, she has always been the best for me since she came into my life. Many good things have happened in my life since she came into it." - Hardik Pandya.
Anger towards paparazzi
Hardik's (Hardik Pandya) brilliant innings came at a time when he had expressed his anger towards the paparazzi on social media just a few hours earlier. He wrote on his Instagram story that some photographers tried to take pictures of Mahieka from angles that would be embarrassing for any woman.
It is worth noting that Hardik and his ex-wife, Natasa Stankovic, divorced by mutual consent last year, in 2024, and since Hardik's public appearance with Mahieka in October, there have been many news reports about the two. Hardik has always reiterated that his and Natasa's decision was entirely by mutual consent and that they are both raising their son Agastya together. But after making a spectacular comeback in Cuttack, Hardik mentioned his partner in a BCCI video. He said in Cuttack, "Now, the most important thing for me is to just play cricket and enjoy every moment on the field. That will be the purpose of my life now, and to be better and bigger." Hardik also said,
"I have always been an honest and truthful person in life, and that has benefited me a lot. I don't sugarcoat things. It has never mattered to me what the other person thinks about me or how people see me. What has always mattered to me is how I feel inside." - Hardik Pandya.
Pandya Shines
All eyes were on Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill in the T20 series against South Africa (IND vs SA 1st T20I) as both were returning after recovering from injuries. Vice-captain Gill (4) couldn't make an impact, but Hardik Pandya was in full form.
Hardik, who was injured in the Super 4 match against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup in September, completed his rehabilitation at the Center of Excellence in Bengaluru and returned to competitive cricket last week with the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. As soon as he stepped onto the field against Punjab, Hardik created a sensation with his bat, playing an unbeaten innings of 77 runs off 42 balls and leading Baroda to victory.
On Tuesday, Hardik was seen in the same form. Coming to bat in the 12th over, Hardik hit two sixes in Keshav Maharaj's over in the next over. In the 16th over, Hardik hit two fours off Anrich Nortje, who was bowling at a speed of 150 kmph, and maintained India's run rate. He completed his half-century with a six off 25 balls. He hit four sixes and six fours in his innings and rescued India from a difficult situation.
Mahieka Sharma's Reaction to Hardik's Video
Hardik Pandya's girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, also reacted to this video posted by the BCCI. Mahieka shared a
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