Hardik Pandya’s explosive 63 off 25 balls and his heartfelt gesture in the direction of an injured cameraman lit up India’s 30-run win over South Africa within the fifth T20I on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, sealing the sequence 3-1 for the hosts.
Hardik Pandya’s sportsmanship shines as he comforts cameraman hit by his six in fifth T20I
Strolling in through the thirteenth over with India seeking to maximise the dying overs, Pandya instantly went on the offensive, stepping out first ball to loft Corbin Bosch for a flat six over long-off. That blow sailed straight in the direction of a cameraman stationed close to the boundary and struck him on the shoulder, forcing a quick halt in play as medical consideration was known as in.
Unfazed, Pandya continued his assault, racing to a half-century in simply 16 balls, the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian after Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball effort towards England in 2007. He completed with 63 off 25 deliveries, smashing 5 fours and 5 sixes at a strike-rate above 250, and stitching a devastating 105-run stand off simply 44 balls with Tilak Varma (73 off 42) to raise India to a commanding 231/5.
As soon as the innings and match concluded, Pandya made his method straight to the cameraman, checking on his situation, making use of an ice pack to his shoulder and sharing a heat hug that left the cameraperson smiling. The clip of the incident, extensively shared throughout social media platforms, drew reward for Pandya’s sportsmanship and compassion, with followers hailing the star all-rounder for wanting past the scoreboard in a high-pressure sequence decider.
Right here’s the video:
– Hardik Pandya smashed the six
– Ball hit the exhausting to cameraman
– After the innings, Hardik immediately got here to fulfill him
– Hardik hugged the cameramanSimply take a look at the cameraman’s response on the finish; it is so priceless. This small gesture from cricketers could make somebody’s day… pic.twitter.com/stV156Og6K
— Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) December 19, 2025
Additionally READ: Top 5 fastest fifties for India in T20I cricket ft. Hardik Pandya – IND vs SA
India wrap up sequence 3-1 as Pandya wins Participant of the Match
Earlier, Tilak continued his purple patch with a fluent 73 off 42 balls, peppered with 10 fours and a six, anchoring the center overs earlier than unleashing alongside Pandya within the again finish. Their explosive partnership remodeled India from a strong platform into an imposing complete, leaving South Africa chasing 232 on a real Ahmedabad floor.
In response, South Africa stayed within the hunt so long as Quinton de Kock was on the crease, the left-hander crafting a 65-run knock that saved the asking price inside attain. As soon as he fell, Varun Chakravarthy took management with a four-wicket haul, supported by Jasprit Bumrah’s miserly spell, because the guests slid from a promising place to 201 for 8, handing India a 30-run victory and a 3-1 sequence triumph to shut out 2025.
Pandya’s all-round influence and high-tempo batting earned him the Participant of the Match award, capping a sequence the place he additionally returned from harm to reclaim his finisher’s position and management presence. Reflecting on his 16-ball fifty, he admitted he had focused a six off his very first supply and solely later discovered he now sits simply behind Yuvraj on India’s T20I fastest-fifties checklist, a milestone made much more memorable by the human contact he confirmed in the direction of the injured cameraman.
Additionally READ: Fans go wild as Varun Chakaravarthy and Hardik Pandya help India demolishes South Africa in Ahmedabad T20I to clinch a 3-1 series win
