IND vs SA: Hardik Pandya's Flying Kiss for Mahieka Sharma Goes Viral - Watch!

Hardik Pandya's powerful performance and affectionate gesture during Friday's T20I match against South Africa became a major talking point. After reaching a blistering half-century, the Indian all-rounder blew a flying kiss toward his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, who was watching from the stands at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Pandya entered the game at No. 5, following the early dismissal of captain Suryakumar Yadav. Despite recent recovery from a quadriceps injury, he silenced any doubts about his form by smashing the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian batsman. He reached the milestone in just 16 balls. Cameras captured Mahieka Sharma's joyful reaction as she cheered and smiled at Pandya's gesture, and the moment quickly spread across social media.

Pandya's aggressive batting display included several powerful shots, one of which unintentionally hit a cameraman near the boundary, highlighting the force behind his strokes. He formed a significant partnership with Tilak Varma, who also contributed with a half-century. Their combined efforts propelled India to a substantial total of 231 for 5, giving the team a strong advantage in the match. Pandya's 16-ball fifty surpassed Abhishek Sharma's 17-ball effort, placing him second only to Yuvraj Singh's record of a 12-ball fifty in the 2007 T20 World Cup for the fastest T20I half-century by an Indian. This public display of affection follows Pandya's split from Natasa Stankovic in 2024, marking a more open approach to his personal life.