hardik pandyaAn explosive 63 off 25 balls and his heartfelt gesture towards an injured cameraman lit up India’s 30-run win over South Africa in the fifth T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, sealing the series 3-1 for the hosts.
Hardik Pandya’s sporting spirit shines as he consoles the cameraman injured by his six in the fifth T20I
During the 13th over when India were trying to maximize the death overs, Pandya immediately went on the attack and lofted the very first ball. Corbin Bosch For a flat six over long-off. The blow went straight towards a cameraman stationed near the boundary line and hit him on the shoulder, forcing a brief halt to play as medical attention was sought.
Without any worries, Pandya continued his attack and completed his half-century in just 16 balls, which is the second fastest half-century by an Indian in T20Is. Yuvraj SinghThe iconic 12-ball effort against England in 2007. He scored 63 runs off 25 balls, hitting five fours and five sixes at a strike-rate above 250, and stitched a devastating partnership of 105 runs off just 44 balls. Tilak Verma (73 off 42) took India to 231/5
Once the innings and the match ended, Pandya went straight to the cameraman, asked about his condition, applied an ice pack to his shoulder and gave him a warm hug which made the cameraman smile. Clips of the incident were shared widely on social media platforms, with Pandya’s sportsmanship and compassion praised, with fans lauding the star all-rounder for looking beyond the scoreboard in the high-pressure series decider.
Here is the video:
– Hardik Pandya hits a six
– The ball hit the cameraman hard
– After the innings, Hardik immediately came to meet him.
– Hardik hugged the cameramanWatch the cameraman’s reaction at the end; This is very priceless. This small effort by cricketers can make someone’s day… pic.twitter.com/stV156Og6K
– Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) 19 December 2025
Also read: Top 5 fastest fifties for India in T20I cricket. Hardik Pandya – IND vs SA
With Pandya becoming the player of the match, India won the series 3-1.
Earlier, Tilak continued his explosive innings of 73 runs off 42 balls with the help of 10 fours and a six, and handled the middle overs before Pandya came in at the end. Their explosive partnership took India from a solid platform to a huge total, leaving South Africa to chase 232 on the real Ahmedabad surface.
In response, South Africa remained in the hunt for a long time quinton de kock At the crease, the left-handed batsman played an innings of 65 runs, keeping the asking rate within reach. Once he fell, Varun Chakraborty Took control by taking four wickets, supported by Jasprit Bumrah’s Miserly magic, as the visitors slipped to 201 for 8 from a promising position, helping India close 2025 with a 30-run win and a 3-1 series win.
Pandya’s all-round impact and dynamic batting earned him the Player of the Match award, leading to a series where he regained his finisher role and leadership presence following his return from injury. Reflecting on his 16-ball half-century, he admitted that he had aimed for a six on his very first ball and after he learned that he was now behind Yuvraj on the list of India’s T20I fastest half-centuries, the human touch he showed towards the injured cameraman made the milestone even more memorable.
