Watch: Hardik Pandya hugs fan at airport before boarding Sri Lanka flight

Hardik Pandya was the talk of the country as the all-rounder delivered a nerve-wracking final over in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa to defend 16 runs as India lifted the trophy. Following this, he was stripped of the vice-captaincy position in T20Is and a potential captaincy stint even as Rohit Sharma announced retirement from the shortest format of the game. 

Gautam Gambhir was named as the Head Coach of Team India and Suryakumar Yadav and Shubman Gill were named as the captain and vice-captain of the team in T20Is for the impending Sri Lanka tour. As the team left for the island country on July 22, Pandya was spotted hugging his fan at the airport. India will take on Sri Lanka in the first T20I on July 27 in Pallekele.

Here’s the video Pandya’s warm hug to fan: 

Selectors unsure of Hardik Pandya’s all-round ability

Several reports were doing rounds that Gambhir was unsure of the Mumbai Indians’ captain’s tactical ability as captain. It is worth noting that, the 30-year-old has previously led Gujarat Titans to their maiden title in his debut stint as captain in IPL 2022. He followed it up with a runner-up position in 2023 but had a disastrous outing as MI captain in 2024 as the team occupied the last position in the points table. Moreover, Shivam Dube has been preferred as an all-round option for the ODIs against Sri Lanka, with Hardik left out.

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Headlines seem to like the Baroda all-rounder as several reports floated around with Gambhir’s doubtfulness of his ability to bowl a full quota of 10 overs in the ODI format. He was reportedly asked to prove his mettle by featuring in the upcoming Vijay Hazare Trophy. It is worth noting that, Dube, who was also included as an all-rounder in the team, bowled just one over in IPL 2024 and T20 World Cup 2024. He played three T20Is against Zimbabwe and delivered just eight overs.