Hardik Pandya’s return to competitive action has taken a somewhat bizarre turn. During the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 (SMAT 2025) clash between Baroda and Punjab at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad, a fan entered the field to stop the match.
After arriving on the field, Pandya also obliged by taking a selfie with a fan before being led away by the ground staff. Coincidentally, this happened several times during the match.
The hiatus was not ideal for Pandya, who is returning to domestic cricket in preparation for the upcoming white-ball duties in India. Still, he remained composed, sharing a shrug and wry smile with his teammates before the game resumed.
It was his first competitive game since his injury which lasted during the Asia Cup Super Four match against Sri Lanka. He went on to put up a commanding display, scoring 77 runs off 42 balls and a wicket as a wicket. Baroda won the match by seven wickets.
Punjab went on to set a target of 223 riding on the knocks of Anmolpreet Singh and Abhishek Sharma who scored 69 and 50 respectively. Baroda’s Raj Limbani, who was part of the 2024 Under-19 T20 World Cup, was the pick of the bowlers in the first innings with figures of 3/36, while Pandya took 1/52 after opening the bowling.
Watch the video here:
Pandya’s return to form will be a positive sign for the Indian selectors. With the South Africa T20I series coming up, it will be interesting to see whether Pandya will make a comeback or be sidelined further.
With the T20 World Cup around the corner, it will be crucial for the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team to have their premier all-rounder at their back and firing on all cylinders and performing in domestic competitions will be the perfect preparation as they prepare for their return to T20I cricket.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
December 2, 2025
