Hardik Pandya was in top form with the bat as he led India to a big 256-4 victory over Zimbabwe in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eights match at Chennai’s MA Chidambaram Stadium. Hardik blasted a six off the penultimate delivery of the game, bringing him to his half-century in just 23 balls.
After reaching the milestone, he blew a flying kiss toward his fiancée Mahieka Sharma, who cheered from the stands at Chepauk. Watching from the gallery, Mahieka reacted with visible amazement to the late onslaught that lifted India past the 250-mark, mirroring the excitement of millions of fans across the country.
Watch the video of Hardik Pandya giving flying kiss to Mahieka here:
𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡 𝐇𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐤 𝐏𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲𝐚. 🤌
A breathtaking burst at the death by him, powered #TeamIndia past 250 with authority! 🙌
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup 👉 SUPER 8, #INDvZIM | LIVE NOW ➡️ https://t.co/vIdZg7mGmy pic.twitter.com/LazrvENuz8
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 26, 2026
The good performance against the Chevrons was not the end as Hardik Pandya in the second innings bowled a vital spell of 3 overs with only 21 run yielded. The Choryasi native was given a title of the Player of the Match due to his remarkable bat performance. Hardik who failed to complete his full quota of four overs came back to the stadium after the match, and tried to repeat his rhythm in the presence of the support personnel.
“Pretty happy. It sounds like a 23-ball fifty but I had to reassess. I was trying too hard but at the middle I realised I was trying to hit the ball too hard. Then I realized I could time the ball as well. So I did that. We were all were keeping an eye on the other game. Now it’s about keeping our skillset. Now we just want to put our best foot forward,” Hardik said at the post-match presentation.
“Once that [SA-WI] was over, we focused on this game. [Bowling] Pretty good. I like bowling with the new ball. God has been kind. I can ball the inswing and outswing. So, pretty satisfied. I still have to bowl one over to bowl, which I will now,” the star all-rounder added.
