Hardik Pandya's Return Sparks Massive Fan Excitement, Match Venue Changed!

Hardik Pandya's much-anticipated return to cricket has created a massive buzz, prompting organizers to relocate the Baroda-Gujarat SMAT match to a larger stadium. The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium was chosen to accommodate the overwhelming fan turnout, which far exceeded expectations. After a long injury layoff, Hardik made a stunning comeback, scoring 77 runs in his first match back. This article delves into the details of his return and the impact on the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Dec 4, 2025, 16:18 IST

Hardik Pandya's Comeback Creates Buzz

Hyderabad: The return of Hardik Pandya has ignited such an intense wave of enthusiasm among fans that event organizers were compelled to move the Baroda-Gujarat SMAT match to a larger venue.

Initially set to take place at the Gymkhana Ground, the match was shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, a venue renowned for hosting significant international events and IPL matches. This stadium offers enhanced security measures and a greater capacity to accommodate large crowds, making it the ideal choice for such a high-demand event.

Officials reported that the decision to relocate was made after observing an unprecedented number of fans gathering near team hotels, practice areas, and ticket counters, far surpassing the usual attendance for domestic tournaments. In Baroda's last match against Punjab, the game faced interruptions due to fans rushing onto the field to meet Hardik.

The surge in attendance is attributed solely to the excitement surrounding Hardik Pandya, whose popularity continues to draw fans in droves.

"The level of enthusiasm for Hardik Pandya is astonishing. The number of fans, inquiries, and crowd movements exceeded our expectations significantly. To ensure safety and smooth operations during the match, we opted to move it to Rajiv Gandhi Stadium," stated a senior official involved in the organization.

Hardik made his return to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury hiatus on Tuesday, scoring an impressive 77 runs off just 42 balls for Baroda as they successfully chased a target of 223 runs against Punjab, marking their second consecutive win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

He had been sidelined since sustaining an injury during India's Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka. Consequently, he missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia and was unavailable for the ongoing 50-over series against South Africa.

After receiving RTP (Return to Play) clearance from the BCCI and leaving the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, Hardik joined the Baroda squad, which is captained by his brother Krunal Pandya, for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

On Thursday, Baroda triumphed over Gujarat by eight wickets in an Elite Group C match, securing their third victory in five matches and climbing to the top of the table, while Gujarat remains in second place with the same number of wins but a lower net run rate.

After winning the toss and choosing to bowl first, Baroda limited Gujarat to just 70 runs, with Raj Limbani taking 3 wickets for only 5 runs. Baroda then chased down the target in just 6.4 overs, losing two wickets in the process.