Hardik Pandya with groundsmen - (Source:DainikJagran/X.com)
IPL 2026 starts on March 28, and five-time winners, the Mumbai Indians, are sweating hard at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Eyes are on Hardik Pandya, who returns for his third year as MI captain. The 32-year-old has been quite active on social media recently for both his on-field and off-field activities.
Hardik Pandya shone for India in the T20 World Cup 2026, where he amassed 217 runs in nine innings and picked up 9 wickets in 9 innings to help the Men in Blue defend their title. On the other hand, the 32-year-old also landed in controversy for his post-final celebrations with Maheika Sharma.
The MI captain also hogged the internet after he was spotted driving his Ferrari on Mumbai roads, which didn’t go well with the fans. However, in the latest events, Hardik has won the fans’ hearts with a sweet gesture for Wankhede groundsmen.
Hardik Pandya Rewards Groundsmen 10,000 Rupees Each
On Thursday, March 26, Hardik Pandya paid a visit to the Wankhede Stadium, where he fulfilled his promise and rewarded the MCA groundsmen for their help in preparing for the T20 World Cup 2026. Reports claim that the MI captain rewarded each ground staff member with a 10,000-rupee cheque for working an overshift ahead of the marquee T20 event.
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Earlier, there were reports that Hardik handed each groundsman a cheque of 10 lakh rupees, but Gaurav Gupta from Times of India revealed that it was 10,000 rupees. More than the amount, fans were impressed by the heartfelt gesture.
Hardik also clicked pictures with the people working for the MCA, and the picture has also gone viral on social media. For the unversed, Hardik trained extra for the T20 World Cup, which forced groundsmen to work beyond their working hours. Therefore, the 32-year-old promised to reward them financially after the tournament.
Hardik Sweats Hard In Wankhede For IPL 2026
The caravan has now shifted from T20 World Cup to IPL and the MI captain is also sweating hard in the nets. Recently, a video went viral where Hardik engaged in an intense conversation with Rohit Sharma and both veterans discussed ideas for the upcoming season.
Mumbai Indians have failed to lift an IPL trophy under Hardik Pandya's leadership so far and the star all-rounder has the sole aim in his sight. The five-time winners will kickstart their campaign on Sunday, March 29, when they lock horns against Kolkata Knight Riders at the Wankhede Stadium.
Mumbai Indians Full Fixtures Revealed For IPL 2026
So far, all teams were preparing with just one phase of IPL 2026 revealed. However, on March 26, the IPL unveiled the full fixtures for the cash-studded league. Mumbai Indians will end their group-stage campaign on May 24 against Rajasthan Royals.
Hardik Pandya has a strong chance to lift the sixth IPL title as several cricket pundits have touted MI to end their five-year-long trophy-less drought.
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