![Hardik Pandya stuns Gautam Gambhir [Source: @BCCI/x]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1768903275237_HardikPandyaandGautamGambhir.jpg?type=hq)
Hardik Pandya stuns Gautam Gambhir [Source: @BCCI/x]
Hardik Pandya seemingly stunned his head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav by hitting some huge sixes during an intense nets training session. The incident occurred in the lead-up to India’s five-match T20I series against New Zealand at home.
With series marking India’s final set of international fixtures before next month’s 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, the likes of Hardik Pandya, captain Suryakumar Yadav himself, all-rounder Shivam Dube, opening batters Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson among others all flexed their arms and showcased their power-hitting credentials at the session.
Hardik Pandya targets first tier for hitting nets sixes
On Tuesday, January 20, i.e., a day prior to the launch of India’s T20I series against New Zealand, the BCCI shared a minute-long video of an intense training session of the Indian team. The video starts with blistering all-rounder Hardik Pandya asking some folks sitting in the empty stands to get away from the danger zone.
His head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, both visibly confused, asked Hardik Pandya where exactly was he targeting to hit his sixes. The Indian all-rounder confidently responded, “On the first tier”.
As Hardik Pandya demonstrated his hard-hitting might, the video soon transitioned to other players taking centre-stage in the nets. Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Sanju Samson, among others, all had a go as the session maintained its high tempo, with the batters making the most of the opportunity to fine-tune their power-hitting ahead of the series opener.
Comeback man and senior fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, along with ace spinner Ravi Bishnoi, had a crack with the ball as the Indian team enjoyed a productive evening out at the nets.
New Zealand series India’s final test before T20 World Cup 2026
While Team India has endured mixed fortunes in ODIs and Test cricket in recent months, their T20I game largely looks settled and assertive. Under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian team secured a comprehensive series win in Australia and against South Africa at home.
The ‘Men in Blue’ also clinched the Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE last year without putting a foot wrong. Moreover, the Indian team has not lost a single T20I challenge, bilateral or multi-nation, since August 2023, i.e., two-and-a-half years ago.
India to face USA, Pakistan, Namibia, and the Netherlands
The Indian team will now face New Zealand in a five-match T20I series between January 21 and January 31. The series-opener will be hosted by the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur before the action shifts to Raipur, Guwahati, Vizag and Thiruvananthapuram for the remaining four games.
Team India, placed in Group A of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, will start out their campaign with a match against the United States on February 7. The match will be hosted by the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
It is worth noting that the Indian team will enter the 20-team competition as ‘defending champions’, having won the previous edition back in mid-2024 in the West Indies.
