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Hardik Pandya Credits Girlfriend Mahieka Sharma for Support During Injury Comeback
Hardik Pandya credited the unwavering support of his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma for helping him make a strong return to international cricket after a two-month injury layoff. The India vice-captain, who suffered a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup in September, made a spectacular comeback in the first T20I against South Africa in Cuttack, scoring a match-winning 59 off 28 balls and taking the crucial wicket of David Miller.
Hardik spent his recovery period at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and leaned heavily on his inner circle, particularly Mahieka, whose presence he described as transformative. Their relationship became public earlier this year after they were spotted together in Mumbai and later shared posts from their travels and family events.
Hardik said that injuries often trigger self-doubt, and the encouragement he received from Mahieka and his family played a major role in rebuilding his confidence. His comments came shortly after he criticised the paparazzi for sharing unauthorised videos of Mahieka online, urging media outlets to respect personal boundaries.
The all-rounder’s comeback also marks a steady transition in his personal life following his amicable separation from ex-wife Natasha Stankovic in 2024. Hardik emphasised that he remains committed to honesty, self-belief and “coming back bigger and better” as he prepares for the T20 World Cup next year.
India won the opening match by 101 runs after bowling out South Africa for 74, following Hardik’s explosive innings and a dominant bowling effort from Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah. India will play the second T20I in Mullanpur on December 11.
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Published: Dec 10, 2025
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