Overview:
Hardik Pandya’s return was nothing short of spectacular, smashing an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls in Baroda's commanding seven-wicket win over Punjab.
The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy match between Baroda and Gujarat, originally scheduled at the Gymkhana ground, was moved to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium on Thursday. This decision was taken due to the massive fan following of Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya.
Baroda secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory in the match, which was shifted to a higher-security venue following the unanticipated surge in crowd interest and concerns for safety with Hardik Pandya in the spotlight. This was Pandya’s second match after his two-month injury hiatus.
The move came after large crowds gathered around the team’s hotel and practice sessions, far beyond the regular attendance expected for a domestic game, as confirmed by the officials.
“The attendance, inquiries, and crowd exceeded our expectations. To ensure safety and the smooth conduct of the match, we opted to organise the match at the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium,” a senior official said.
Hardik Pandya’s return was nothing short of spectacular, smashing an unbeaten 77 off 42 balls in Baroda’s commanding seven-wicket win over Punjab. In the next outing against Gujarat, he contributed a handy 10 runs and claimed another wicket as Baroda cruised to an eight-wicket triumph.
He’s set to feature for India in the upcoming five-match T20 series against South Africa, beginning in Cuttack on December 9. The selectors are optimistic he will quickly return to form, especially with the T20 World Cup next year. A fully fit Hardik is a crucial part of India’s white-ball plans, and the domestic games will be instrumental in determining his readiness for international duties.