Hardik Pandya rewards MCA groundsmen with special gesture ahead of IPL 2026
Ahead of IPL 2026, Hardik Pandya gave cash rewards to Wankhede groundsmen, winning fans’ respect for his kind act.
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The IPL 2026 season is set to begin on March 28, with five-time champions Mumbai Indians intensifying their preparations at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Much of the attention is on Hardik Pandya, who enters his third season as captain. The 32-year-old has also remained in the spotlight recently due to his active presence on social media, both on and off the field.
Ahead of the new IPL season, the Baroda all-rounder once again grabbed attention, this time for a heartfelt gesture. On Thursday, Hardik fulfilled a promise he had made two months ago by meeting the ground staff at Wankhede Stadium and rewarding each of them with a cash token, showing his appreciation for their efforts.
Notably, Hardik had earlier trained and batted in the nets at the same venue before the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. India went on to win the tournament, defeating the New Zealand national cricket team in a one-sided final in Ahmedabad to successfully retain the title.
Hardik Pandya appreciates the grounds staff for their efforts
On Thursday, March 26, Hardik Pandya visited the Wankhede Stadium, where he fulfilled his promise and rewarded the MCA ground staff for their help in preparing for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026. Reports say that the Mumbai Indians captain gave each staff member a cheque of ₹10,000 for working extra hours before the big tournament.
Earlier, some reports said that Hardik had given ₹10 lakh to each groundsman. However, The Times of India clarified that the amount was ₹10,000. Still, fans appreciated the kind gesture more than the amount.
Hardik also clicked photos with the ground staff, and these pictures have gone viral on social media. For those who don’t know, Hardik trained extra before the World Cup, which made the ground staff work beyond their usual hours. Because of this, the 32-year-old had promised to reward them after the tournament.
Hardik Pandya gears up for IPL 2026 season with Mumbai Indians
The 30-year-old Hardik Pandya, who played a key role in India’s successful ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, has now shifted his full focus to the upcoming IPL 2026 season. Representing the Mumbai Indians, the all-rounder is preparing with renewed determination and a clear objective in mind.
In the lead-up to the season, a video recently went viral showing Hardik in an intense discussion with Rohit Sharma. The conversation between the two senior players reflected their focus on strategy and planning for the new campaign.
Mumbai Indians have yet to win an IPL title under Hardik’s captaincy, and the star all-rounder will be keen to change that record this season. The five-time champions are set to begin their campaign on Sunday, March 29, against Kolkata Knight Riders at the iconic Wankhede Stadium.
As the season approaches, all eyes will be on Hardik Pandya, who will aim to lead the Mumbai Indians back to title-winning ways with strong performances both as a leader and an all-rounder.
Fans react to Hardik Pandya’s thoughtful gesture
Fans across social media praised Hardik Pandya for his thoughtful gesture towards the ground staff at Wankhede Stadium. Many people appreciated that he kept his promise and personally thanked those who work behind the scenes.
Some fans reacted positively. One user wrote, “That’s wonderful if true @hardikpandya7. If I had so much wealth, I would also help hardworking people who need support.”
However, not everyone agreed. Another user commented, “This is just a PR stunt to improve his image.”
Read how fans reacted.
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