Hardik Pandya’s 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 sportsmanship shines as he comforts cameraman hit by his six in fifth T20I
Walking in during the 13th over with India looking to maximise the death overs, Pandya immediately went on the offensive, stepping out first ball to loft Corbin Bosch for a flat six over long-off. That blow sailed straight towards a cameraman stationed near the boundary and struck him on the shoulder, forcing a brief halt in play as medical attention was called in.
Unfazed, Pandya continued his assault, racing to a half-century in just 16 balls, the second-fastest T20I fifty by an Indian after Yuvraj Singh’s iconic 12-ball effort against England in 2007. He finished with 63 off 25 deliveries, smashing five fours and five sixes at a strike-rate above 250, and stitching a devastating 105-run stand off just 44 balls with Tilak Varma (73 off 42) to lift India to a commanding 231/5.
Once the innings and match concluded, Pandya made his way straight to the cameraman, checking on his condition, applying an ice pack to his shoulder and sharing a warm hug that left the cameraperson smiling. The clip of the incident, widely shared across social media platforms, drew praise for Pandya’s sportsmanship and compassion, with fans hailing the star all-rounder for looking beyond the scoreboard in a high-pressure series decider.
Here’s the video:
– Hardik Pandya smashed the six
– Ball hit the hard to cameraman
– After the innings, Hardik instantly came to meet him
– Hardik hugged the cameramanJust look at the cameraman’s reaction at the end; it’s so priceless. This small gesture from cricketers can make someone’s day… pic.twitter.com/stV156Og6K
— Tejash (@Tejashyyyyy) December 19, 2025
Also READ: Top 5 fastest fifties for India in T20I cricket ft. Hardik Pandya – IND vs SA
India wrap up series 3-1 as Pandya wins Player of the Match
Earlier, Tilak continued his purple patch with a fluent 73 off 42 balls, peppered with 10 fours and a six, anchoring the middle overs before unleashing alongside Pandya in the back end. Their explosive partnership transformed India from a solid platform into an imposing total, leaving South Africa chasing 232 on a true Ahmedabad surface.
In response, South Africa stayed in the hunt as long as Quinton de Kock was at the crease, the left-hander crafting a 65-run knock that kept the asking rate within reach. Once he fell, Varun Chakravarthy took control with a four-wicket haul, supported by Jasprit Bumrah’s miserly spell, as the visitors slid from a promising position to 201 for 8, handing India a 30-run victory and a 3-1 series triumph to close out 2025.
Pandya’s all-round impact and high-tempo batting earned him the Player of the Match award, capping a series where he also returned from injury to reclaim his finisher’s role and leadership presence. Reflecting on his 16-ball fifty, he admitted he had targeted a six off his very first delivery and only later learned he now sits just behind Yuvraj on India’s T20I fastest-fifties list, a milestone made even more memorable by the human touch he showed towards the injured cameraman.
