Hardik Pandya blows flying kisses to girlfriend Mahieka Sharma after smashing India’s second-fastest T20I fifty
Hardik Pandya played a magnificent knock to record the second fastest fifty by an Indian in T20 internationals. After the record-breaking innings, the all-rounder celebrated the moment by blowing flying kisses to his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma; This move quickly went viral.
In a night defined by pure muscle and pure emotion, Hardik Pandya didn’t just play cricket; gave a masterclass in today’s power shot. During the decisive fifth T20I against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Friday, the Indian all-rounder hit the second fastest T20I fifties by an Indian, reaching the astonishing milestone off 16 deliveries.
While the record books highlighted the violence of his knife, cameras captured a more personal moment that set social media ablaze. Immediately after reaching the half-century with a six, Hardik returned to the VIP stands and blew many flying kisses to his girlfriend, model Mahieka Sharma, who was seen enthusiastically cheering for her “hero”.
Hardik Pandya’s flying kiss attracted attention!
His girlfriend Mahieka Sharma was seen cheering wildly from the stands – goals! #HardikPandya #INDvSA
— Yash MSdian (@itzyash07) December 19, 2025
Hardik, who was promoted to No. 5 after skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s early dismissal, looked like a man on a mission. The Baroda man, who recently returned from a quadriceps injury, showed no signs of rust. His innings was a calculated devastation, featuring a barrage of sixes that left the South African bowlers searching for answers.
One of his signature high drives was so powerful that he accidentally hit a cameraman near the border; It was a testament to the “Hardik Aura” that has come back into the limelight of the stage this season. Partnering with Tilak Varma (who raised his own steady fifty), Pandya guided India to a mammoth total of 231/5.
With his 16-ball feat, Hardik officially surpassed Abhishek Sharma (17 balls) to take the second spot in the list of fastest Indian T20I fifties. He currently sits just behind the iconic Yuvraj Singh, whose 12-ball world record set in 2007 remains the benchmark for this format.
Hardik’s celebration went beyond excitement; It seemed like a public declaration of a new beginning. Following his much-publicized split from Natasa Stankovic in 2024, Hardik has become increasingly open about the sense of stability that Mahieka Sharma has brought to his life.
As the T20 World Cup squad announcement approaches, Hardik Pandya has conveyed a strong message to both the selectors and the world: ‘Rockstar’ is back and playing with more passion and intensity than ever before.
Also read| IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya smashes second fastest fifty by an Indian in T20Is, Yuvraj Singh tops all-time
