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Hardik Pandya's Kindness Overshadowed Big Hitting As He Made Ballboy’s Dream True

Akshita Patel

Hardik Pandya clicked a selfie with ballboy [Source: @rohan_gangta/X.com]Hardik Pandya clicked a selfie with ballboy [Source: @rohan_gangta/X.com]

Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya once proved that he is not just a match-winner on the field but he is a fan favourite too. During the third T20I against Bangladesh in 2024, Pandya took a selfie with a ballboy on the boundary rope, and the sentimental act went viral.

The event took place during the third T20I match which was contested between India and Bangladesh on October 12, 2024, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad. India were looking to defend a record total of 297 when Hardik noticed a fan at the rope boundary.

Hardik Pandya Won Hearts With A Sweet Gesture For Ballboy 

While fielding near the boundary line, Hardik Pandya saw a ballboy attempting to take a selfie with him. Rather than ignoring him, the superstar cricketer gladly complied.

He had posed for the photograph not once but twice to ensure the boy captured a flawless one. The small act won the applause of fans both in the stadium and online, showing Pandya’s friendly and down-to-earth side. 

Hardik Pandya's sweet gesture [Source: @rohan_gangta/X.com]Hardik Pandya's sweet gesture [Source: @rohan_gangta/X.com]

At that time, the all-rounder had already been a fan favourite for his heroics in the T20 World Cup final, where he defended 15 odd runs in the last over. Hence, such gestures only added to his popularity, especially after he was booed during the IPL for replacing Rohit Sharma as captain of the Mumbai Indians. 

That being said, it was also a special day for Pandya with the bat. He played a blazing knock of 47 runs from just 18 balls, hitting four fours and four sixes, as India scored a huge total. His explosive knock laid the foundation for India's commanding 133-run victory, clinching a 3-0 series whitewash over Bangladesh.

Hardik Pandya's performances during the series were nothing less than sensational. In three games, he scored 118 runs at a grand average of 59 and an astronomical strike rate of 222.64. He also contributed with the ball, taking a wicket and a breathtaking running catch in the second T20I.