India’s hard-hitting all-rounder Hardik Pandya showcased his big-hitting skills in the net session ahead of the first T20I of the five-T20I series against New Zealand at Nagpur's Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium. In what looked like a friendly competition with Shivam Dube on who can hit the ball further, Pandya told head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav exactly where he is targetting to hit the ball. The in-form all-rounder succeeded in doing so, amusing Gambhir and leading to Suryakumar teasing Dube.
“Oh bhaiya log sab bethe ho, uth jao (Everyone over there, clear the area),” Pandya asked the people in the stands as he aimed to hit the ball there.
“Tum kaha aim kar rahe ho (Where are you aiming to hit the ball)? North wing?” asked Gambhir.
“Me first tier kar raha hu (I am targetting the first tier),” replied the 32-year-old.
Then Gambhir said “idhar aa jaldi”, asking someone to come quickly and watch Pandya attempt the big shot.
As Pandya hit the shot, Gambhir could not stop laughing. Then Dube shouted, “Aee Dube, second tier pe maar diya (Hey Dube, he has hit it on the second tier).”
While Pandya pulled off what he had said, Dube was batting in the nets as well. He replied to Suryakumar, “Ball leg side pe daala, saamne kaise maru? (The ball was on the leg side, how am I supposed to hit it in front of me).”
In the video posted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), other players were seen playing big shots as well, including openers Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson. Pacer Jasprit Bumrah and recalled leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi were in action as well.
Pandya’s red-hot form
Pandya has been in good form of late. In the previous five-T20I series, he scored two fifties from three innings, including a match-winning 25-bal 63. Then, he played two games in the Vijay Hazare Trophy (VHT) 2025-26. Against Vidarbha, the Baroda all-rounder whacked 11 sixes in a 92-ball 133. He followed it up with a 33-ball 75 against Chandigarh. His whirlwind knock was laced with nine sixes.
Pandya’s T20I record against New Zealand
He was rested for the three-ODI series against New Zealand where his services were missed dearly. He would look to improve his T20I record against the Kiwis. From 12 innings, he has scored 173 runs at an average of 19.22 and strike rate of 116.89 against them. With the ball, he has nine wickets at an average of 29.77. He took a four-fer against New Zealand when the visitors were bowled out for 66 in the run chase of 235 in February 2023.