 "India's Hardik Pandya plays a shot during the first T20I cricket match between India and South Africa at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025. PTI")
Hardik Pandya flexed his hitting muscles in the ongoing Vijay Hazare Trophy in an incredible innings of 133 for Baroda in a losing cause against Vidarbha on Saturday at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. Hardik waged a lone battle to take Baroda to 293/9 but the score was chased down with ease by Vidarbha with Aman Mokhade smashing an unbeaten 150.
The 32-year-old all-rounder hit eight sixes and 11 fours in his rescue act but the highlight of Hardik’s innings was the way he reached his century. Batting on 66 off 62 balls, Hardik smashed five sixes and a four off his next six balls to accumulate 34 runs and notch up his ton in just 68 deliveries.
The knock came before India’s squad announcement for the ODI series against New Zealand where Hardik was rested due to workload concerns.
Hardik toys with Vidarbha bowling
Hardik joined Baroda, captained by his brother Krunal, ahead of their fifth-round clash with a strong Vidarbha outfit. Playing his first Vijay Hazare Trophy match of the season, Hardik arrived at the pitch with his team under pressure.
Half of Baroda’s batting line-up, including captain Krunal and star wicket-keeper Jitesh Sharma, were sent back to the pavillion by the 20th over with the score just being 71.
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View AllHardik then batted patiently before exploding in the 39th over. He took left-arm spinner Parth Rekhade to task by hitting 34 runs off his over to reach his century. Hardik then continued his hitting spree to quickly reach 133 from only 92 balls. He was dismissed at 133 by Yash Thakur, who finished with four wickets for Vidarbha.
No one else scored over 30 for Baroda and thus they could only get to 293/9 in their 50 overs.
In reply, Vidarbha’s top-order batted brilliantly to kill the game upfront. Mokhade scored an unbeaten 150 while Atharava Taide and Dhruv Shorey got half-centuries.
Hardik also opened the bowling for Baroda and bowled two overs for 15 runs with Mokhade firing a couple of boundaries off his bowling.