In Shorts
• Hardik Pandya hit a blistering 16-ball fifty, the second fastest by an Indian in T20 internationals.
• After reaching his milestone, Pandya shared multiple kisses with girlfriend Mahieka Sharma in the crowd.
• The knock helped India post a strong total in the fifth T20I against South Africa.
In a thrilling display at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya put on a spectacular performance in the fifth T20 international against South Africa. Coming in midway through the innings, Pandya unleashed an aggressive assault on the bowling attack and raced to a half-century in just 16 balls, making it the second fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batter.
The crowd was sent into a frenzy as Pandya cleared the rope repeatedly with powerful shots, helping India build a formidable total. His blistering innings included a string of boundaries and sixes that kept the momentum firmly in India’s favour throughout the late overs.
Yet, it was Pandya’s celebration that captured as much attention as his batting. After reaching his fifty, he turned toward the stands and blew a series of playful kisses to his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, who was watching from the crowd. The gesture quickly became a talking point, as cameras caught Sharma’s delighted reaction to the affectionate acknowledgement.
Pandya and Sharma’s relationship has increasingly been in the public eye this year, with the cricketer openly acknowledging her support off the field. Their appearance at the match further fuelled fan interest and made for one of the most talked about moments of the evening.
India’s commanding total, largely built on Pandya’s explosive batting and key partnerships, put pressure on South Africa and positioned the hosts strongly in the series finale. As fans celebrated the performance, Pandya’s blend of cricketing excellence and personal celebration ensured the night would be remembered for both sporting merit and a heartfelt on-field display.
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