In a heartwarming gesture, Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya was spotted in an airport, giving an autograph to a young fan. The incident was recorded on camera and later went viral on social media platforms. 

In the viral video attached with this article below, we can see a boy was waiting for Hardik Pandya's arrival. Pandya was heavily surrounded by security personnel, but that did not stop the boy from rushing towards his favorite cricketer. Hardik himself insisted the boy come. As per the protocols, any common person is strictly prohibited from reaching a close zone of a star cricketer. 

As soon as the boy tried to reach the MI captain, security personnel reacted and pushed him away, then Hardik requested them to let his fan in. In the end, the boy got what he wanted: an autograph from Hardik Pandya. 

Read More: MI VS SRH IPL Match Live streaming: Where & How to watch on TV

Pandya was seen in a Mumbai Indians' polo t-shirt, light blue jeans, white sneakers, and eyewear. 

Golden opportunity for Mumbai Indians to get 4 consecutive wins

But it was unclear when the video was recorded or on which platform the incident took place. 

Watch the viral video here:

A fan rushed to touch Hardik's feet but was stopped by the guards,Hardik called him back and gave an autograph ❤️

Hardik never disappoint his fans ❤️ pic.twitter.com/Ls5ihogMyA

— Nenu (@Nenu_yedavani) April 22, 2025

Mumbai Indians is set to face Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) today (April 23) at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The five-time IPL champion franchise will step onto the field after winning 3 matches in a row and will try their best to continue their winning momentum against Hyderabad as well. 

Mumbai Indians is currently lying in the 6th spot of the ten-team IPL with 8 points in 8 matches (4 W, 4 L). If they are able to defeat SRH, then they can claim 2 more valuable points. 

After enduring a tough stretch since IPL 2024, Mumbai Indians (MI) appear to have rediscovered their rhythm just when it matters most in IPL 2025. The five-time champions had a shaky start to the season, suffering early defeats, but they’ve begun to show why they’re one of the most successful franchises in league history. Having seen both glory and failure over the years, MI has mastered the art of staying composed under pressure and responding with tactical precision.

Climbing from the bottom of the table to 6th place with three consecutive wins, MI’s resurgence has been both timely and impressive. In this article, we break down the key reasons behind their comeback.

Mentality

Mumbai Indians management is well known for its methodical game style on the field. From structuring the playing eleven to utilizing bowlers according to conditions, MI has mastered all these things. After a cruising victory against archrival Chennai Super Kings (CSK), MI batting coach Kieron Pollard revealed that they planned to use Jasprit Bumrah with the new ball against SRH and wanted to use Deepak Chahar against CSK. 

Read More: Heartbreak in Pahalgam: Ritika Sajdeh reacts to tragic terror attack

Return of Bumrah 

Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in the early matches due to injury was a major setback for the Mumbai Indians, but his return has proven to be a turning point in their campaign. Once he regained his rhythm, Bumrah quickly reminded everyone of his match-winning abilities with impactful spells. His bowling performances have been crucial — he returned figures of 0/29 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), followed by a tight 1/21 against Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH), and a vital 2/25 against Chennai Super Kings (CSK).

All-rounder skipper 

Mumbai Indians’ captain, Hardik Pandya, has been in exceptional form this season, contributing with both bat and ball. In just five innings, he has scored 104 runs at an outstanding strike rate of 170, demonstrating his explosive batting capabilities. In addition to his batting prowess, Pandya has claimed 11 wickets, placing him firmly in the race for the Purple Cap. His all-around performances have been crucial in tight encounters, where his timely contributions with both bat and ball have helped Mumbai stay competitive. Pandya’s ability to turn matches with his dynamic skills has proven his worth as a match-winner. His leadership, coupled with his individual brilliance, has been a key factor in Mumbai's success this season, and he continues to be a vital player for the team as they push for a playoff spot in IPL 2025.

Vintage Rohit 

Rohit Sharma is steadily regaining his form, with his brilliant knock of 76* off 46 balls being exactly what Mumbai Indians required to lay a solid foundation at the top of their batting order. This innings highlighted his ability to anchor the innings and build partnerships, something MI has relied on for success. Alongside him, Ryan Rickelton has shown encouraging signs of being able to deliver match-winning performances. His promising starts indicate that he could be the explosive partner Rohit needs at the top. Together, the opening duo holds the potential to dominate any bowling attack, creating a strong platform for MI's middle order to capitalize on. If both Rohit and Rickelton continue in this form, they can prove to be a formidable force in the tournament, taking on some of the toughest bowling lineups in IPL 2025. This partnership could be a game-changer for MI as they aim for the playoffs.

Swashbuckling Suryakumar 

Suryakumar Yadav has regained his confidence and form in the middle order, showcasing his trademark 360° hitting abilities. The Mumbai Indians' star batter has been crucial in stabilizing the innings and accelerating when needed. His match-winning knock of an unbeaten 68* off just 30 balls against Chennai Super Kings stands out as his best performance of IPL 2025 so far. Suryakumar's ability to adapt to various situations and play innovative shots has been pivotal in MI's resurgence. His aggressive batting style has been a game-changer, helping the team set strong totals and chase challenging targets. With his current form, he remains a key player for MI as they push for a spot in the playoffs. If he continues this momentum, Suryakumar's contributions could be the driving force behind Mumbai Indians' successful campaign this season.

It is widely believed that every full-grown man has their childhood version somewhere inside their heart. The belief actually is not limited to theory; it is proven. For example, we can point out Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya. Pandya has found playing with a robot on the field. 

To enhance broadcasting quality, IPL authority has introduced an advanced robot dog in the ongoing season. The robot dog can carry a high-resolution camera; from there, viewers can experience new aspects and angles of their favorite sports or matches. But the most charming part is that, apart from the professional duty, this robot has the features to behave almost like a real-life dog; it can play, and it can show emotions through multiple body gestures. It seems that Hardik Pandya is pretty impressed with the advanced technology. 

A video posted on social media recently caught the eyes of netizens. In this video we can see Pandya with a remote control playing with the robot dog like a child. The MI skipper was accompanied by Anant Ambani. 

Read More: IPL 2025: DC VS LSG Player Battles to Watch Out

The robot dog is actually now doing multiple tasks

Over the years, IPL has introduced multiple pieces of equipment and concluded modern technology to enhance the experience of the viewers across the planet. In its latest move, IPL has pushed the boundaries further, offering viewers exciting new camera angles and an immersive match experience, making the game even more engaging for audiences watching from home.

Watch the video here: 

Areyy Idhi remote control kukka naa 🤣, nenu inni rojulu robo kukka anukuntunna pic.twitter.com/SL4RoNQ1qO

— EpicCommentsTelugu (@EpicCmntsTelugu) April 21, 2025

Cricketers are fascinated by this robot dog, especially when they see it for the first time in the field. With the remote console, it can be used as a toy as well, like Hardik did. The robot dog is now an integral part of the IPL broadcast team. The main reason behind its inclusion is to produce more new and refined angles of the ground. But now, it also helps the cricketers to relax their minds after a fierce rivalry.

It was a thrilling night for the Indian Premier League spectators. Mumbai Indians halted Delhi Capitals winning streak and earned their second IPL 2025 with victory. Some of the Mumbai Indians fans applaud their former captain Rohit Sharma for this crucial victory. But Sanjay Manjrekar provided some different opinions. According to Manjrekar, it was the captain, Hardik Pandya, who made the last decision.

Read More: WATCH: MS Dhoni’s Reluctant DRS call pays off for CSK in IPL 2025 clash against LSG

Mumbai Indians, one of the most successful IPL teams, has started their ongoing season in a staggering manner. Under the leadership of Hardik Pandya, MI finds it difficult to maintain their momentum on the field. They were also criticized for their impact player utilization in some of the year's previous games. But against Delhi Capitals, there was a completely different scenario for Mumbai Indians. They used their impact player so precisely that the Mumbai Indians met with their second victory of the season.

According to the cricket expert, "There are many people who are there to give suggestions, but it all depends on the person in the middle who has to take the decision. He (Hardik) listened to the advice (from Rohit) is the biggest thing. If you give Rohit credit here as well and not Hardik Pandya, it would be the wrong thing. If the suggestion had failed, you would’ve blamed Hardik." MI used Karn Sharma as an impact player in place of Rohit Sharma. After dismissing Abishek Porel, he guided KL Rahul and Tristan Stubbs to the dressing room. 

The former cricketer credits Pandya for MI's heroic win

Sanjay believes, "It’s quite easy to give suggestions from outside. The entire credit for this victory should go to Hardik Pandya. Considering how emotional he has been (over MI’s recent results), it was an important win for him." He further added, "It has been quite a difficult journey for him. Would be wrong if social media and others say that Mumbai Indians won because of Rohit Sharma’s suggestions. Hardik Pandya is the captain, and he is the one taking decisions, no matter who is giving suggestions."

An unusual moment unfolded during the IPL 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians at the Arun Jaitley Stadium as MI captain Hardik Pandya’s bat was subjected to a rare on-field examination. Just as Pandya walked out to bat in the 14th over, the umpire halted him for a detailed check using a bat gauge to ensure the bat met the legal specifications. The moment quickly went viral, sparking widespread debate and curiosity across the cricketing world.

The inspection was brief but thorough, with the umpire confirming that Pandya's bat adhered to ICC regulations before allowing him to proceed. The timing of the inspection, right in the middle of a high-pressure game, caught everyone—including commentators and fans—off guard. Though equipment checks are part of the rules, such instances are hardly seen mid-match, especially with high-profile players, adding a strange twist to the encounter.

Also read: PBKS vs KKR: Match 31 weather and pitch report IPL 2025

Despite the buzz, Pandya’s time at the crease was short-lived as he managed to score only 2 runs. The bat-checking incident, combined with his early dismissal, added to the game’s drama, which already featured Karun Nair’s explosive 89 and a dramatic collapse by Delhi Capitals in the death overs. The moment added an extra layer of intrigue to a match packed with action and unexpected developments.

🔥 Unreal Moment in IPL 2025! 🔥

Umpire checks Hardik Pandya's bat before his explosive entry! 💪🏏

#IPL2025 #HardikPandya pic.twitter.com/KoSe5HAVq0

— Maverick (@MaverickNeo07) April 14, 2025

MI get past DC's winning juggernaut

In a nail-biting IPL 2025 encounter, the Mumbai Indians edged past the Delhi Capitals by 12 runs in front of a packed crowd. MI set a daunting target of 205/5, led by a solid 59 from Tilak Varma and a fiery unbeaten 38 off 17 balls from Naman Dhir. On the bowling front, Kuldeep Yadav impressed DC with economical figures of 2/23, while Vipraj Nigam delivered key blows by dismissing Rohit Sharma and Hardik Pandya.

Delhi’s chase got off to a rocky start, with Jake Fraser-McGurk falling on the first delivery. But Karun Nair ignited hope with a brilliant 89 off just 40 balls, smashing 12 fours and 5 sixes. Abishek Porel added a useful 33, but once Nair was dismissed, the Capitals’ innings began to crumble. Karn Sharma’s three wickets turned the tide, and Mitchell Santner’s vital scalps, including the big wicket of Nair which pretty much sealed the momentum for MI. Delhi reached 193 in 19 overs but couldn’t cross the line, bringing their unbeaten streak to an end while MI bagged two crucial points.

The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 has produced some exciting batters and bowlers throughout the years. In the era of quick-paced cricket, especially in the over format, pace variation becomes an effective card for bowlers. Cross seam and scrambled seam deliveries have also become popular among pace bowlers. With variations (pace, spin line, and length), bowlers force batters to make mistakes. But which bowlers are so far looking dangerous in the ongoing IPL 2025?

Read More: [WATCH] IPL 2025: Virat Kohli asks Sanju Samson to check his heart beat during RR vs RCB clash

Interestingly, in IPL 2025, several seasoned pacers have stepped up for their respective franchises. Names like Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, and even veteran Ishant Sharma—who continues to clock speeds of 140 km/h—have shown their value. However, raw pace alone isn't enough in the T20 format; it’s the clever use of variations that often makes the difference. Among them, Prasidh Krishna has arguably stood out the most, showcasing his ability to adapt his bowling to suit pitch conditions. To truly assess whether pacers or spinners have had a greater impact this season, a closer look at the numbers is essential.

Top Wicket Takers

Some more notable performers in this series are Prasidh Krishna (Pace), Mohammed Siraj (Pace), Khaleel Ahmed (Pace), and Sai Kishore (Spin). These all, especially mentioned bowlers, claimed 10 scalps in 6 innings each. 

Top 5 bowlers according to economy rate 

As IPL 2025 unfolds, the battle between spin and pace continues to shape match outcomes and team strategies. While express pacers remain crucial in powerplays and death overs, it’s the spinners who are quietly emerging as game-changers. Bowlers like Kuldeep Yadav and Noor Ahmad have demonstrated the value of control and variation, often turning games around with their economy and wicket-taking abilities. On the other hand, pacers such as Hardik Pandya and Shardul Thakur are delivering impactful spells when it matters most. However, consistency and control have tilted the scales slightly in favor of spin, especially during the middle overs. As the tournament progresses and pitches begin to deteriorate due to consistent use, conditions are likely to further benefit spinners. Slower surfaces and variable bounce will play into their hands, making spin a more dominant force in the latter stages of IPL 2025. The spin vs pace rivalry is far from over—but spin may just have the final say.

Mumbai Indians skipper Hardik Pandya gained immense admiration through his sentimental act by giving Gujarat Giants' promising cricketer Kashvee Gautam a customized 1100-gram bat during their match at Delhi's Arun Jaitley Stadium on April 12, 2025. Pandya fulfilled his Women’s Premier League (WPL) 2025 promise by giving a personalized bat of 1100 grams to Kashvee Gautam minutes before the MI vs. Delhi Capitals contest at IPL 2025. The 21-year-old promising cricket all-rounder Kashvee Gautam showed great excitement, which made the bat exchange go viral among the cricket community.

Gujarat Giants played MI in the WPL 2025 Eliminator match at Mumbai’s Brabourne Stadium on March 13. After the match, Kashvee met Pandya through Harleen Deol, as she showed her bat with the HP33 number, which corresponded to Pandya's jersey number. Pandya continued his conversation by promising to send her a bat, which he would sign after destroying it. He honored his pledge by delivering the bat in Delhi, where he also congratulated Kashvee upon her first Indian appearance during the Sri Lankan tri-nation series.

Hardik Pandya gifted a bat to the rising Superstar of Indian Women's cricket, Kashvee Gautam 🌟

- Hardik met Kashvee during WPL & promised her to give a specific 1100 gram bat, A great gesture by MI Captain. pic.twitter.com/sZWdhXfQLk

— Nishu Gautam (@NishuGautam10) April 13, 2025

Also Read: Top 5 highest run chases in history of IPL

Kashvee’s impressive performance in WPL 2025 has produced 11 wickets through nine matches while maintaining a bowling economy of 6.45 for Gujarat Giants. The combination of her highly effective bowling technique and powerful batting abilities led the selectors to select her for the Indian team, and teammate Phoebe Litchfield described her as someone who is "calm, collected, and destructive." Kashvee welcomes the bat gift from Pandya, which gives her extra support because she aims to participate in the Women’s ODI World Cup.

A Symbol of Inspiration

The public received the bat gift for Kashvee from Pandya positively, which created a buzz on social media platforms. An X user notably hailed the gift as a "great showing of leadership from the MI captain." In a season where MI IPL 2025 has only one win from its five matches, Pandya demonstrates his leadership responsibilities extend far outside the field of play. Kashvee receives the bat as an encouraging symbol that boosts her effort to excel on the international cricket stage while working to combine men’s and women’s cricket in a heartwarming moment.

After making a comeback as Mumbai Indians (MI) captain, Hardik Pandya has been going through a tough time. From trolling to performance issues, the all-rounder spent a tumultuous period on and off the field. During the Champions League with Team India, Pandya was an integral part of the team; he did his job well and made the trophy sure for his team without doing anything such as heroics. 

Read More: Is KL Rahul finally delivering in IPL 2025?

As a team, the Mumbai Indians are far away from their prime days. The 5-time IPL-winning side is currently in 8th place in the ten-team points table. They managed to win only one after playing 5. A team's performance can depend on multiple factors, especially since cricket is a team game. MI is yet to perform as a unit in the ongoing IPL 2025. In this article, we'll break down the performance stats of Hardik Pandya so far in the tournament. 

Over the last few months, Hardik has improved his bowling a lot. With the old ball, the Mumbai skipper became a very useful asset for the team. When the team needed to put a barricade in front of the opponent team's run flow, the MI captain marked his presence. So far in 4 matches (missed the first match due to suspension), Pandya has bagged 10 wickets with a fair amount of economy rate. His best bowling figure in the campaign was against Lucknow Super Giants, when he claimed 5 scalps, spending only 36 runs. 

With the bat, the 31-year-old all-rounder has played a couple of notable innings, one against Royal Challengers Bengaluru with 42 runs and another 28* innings came when Mumbai Indians faced Lucknow Super Giants. 

A few months back, Hardik was mainly known as a fearless batter who could bowl some impactful overs and, as a batter, could play stormy innings to snatch victory from opposition teams grips. Now, he looks more composed than before, focused on his target.

Hardik Pandya's Performance in IPL 2025 

Mumbai Indian's new tactics of bringing former captain Rohit Sharma as an impact player has ceased a debate between former Indian player Ambati Rayudu and former Indian batting coach Sanjay Bangar. Rohit Sharma has been struggling with form since the start of the IPL, where he is been struggling with scores of 0,8,13 and 17in his first four matches of the season. 

It was the match number 20 which was played between Mumbai Indians (MI) vs Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) at the Wankhede Stadium. Where Hardik Pandya won the toss and elected to bowl first. Where RCB posted a total of 221 runs with the loss of 5 wickets. MI in the chase used their former captain Rohit Sharma as the impact player in the game. Sanjay Bangar said Mumbai Indians should have used their experience of Rohit Sharma. 

Read More: "Catch practice or comedy show? Irfan Pathan trolls CSK & PBKS: "Itne to legend league mein nahi chorte bhai"

Experience Impacts A Lot

Mumbai Indians at the chase were going well despite early wickets where Tilak Varma and Hardik Pandya's contributions went in vain when MI lost the match by 12 runs. It was the fourth loss of Mumbai Indians (MI). During the discussion on ESPN Cricinfo, the former batting coach expressed his views that MI should have gone with the experience of Rohit Sharma who would have helped Hardik Pandya a lot. But Ambati Rayudu who was sitting beside him had a different thought. 

Sanjay says I think Rohit's absence on the field is hurting from a leadership point of view. He would give Hardik Pandya the necessary inputs on the field. Ambati Rayudu in reply said that I don't think Hardik requires any input from anyone, a captain needs to be left alone and tends to make their own decisions which may give them clear clarity. You cannot have 10 people in his ears like last year. 

Sanjay Bangar Fires Back You Never Led A Team

Sanjay Bangar said that they have lots of power hitters who can be used as impact substitute players like Tilak Varma, and Naman Dhir, who aren't required to bowl too. But in reply, Rayudu said that it's his team and the decisions should be taken by Hardik Pandya only. Soon the banter turned into a heated argument. 

Soon the anchor tried to change the topic but the debate continued. Sanjay stated that Rayudu knows the MI setup. Rayudu said Kohli didn't require Dhoni's help he did his work on his own, Dhoni was not at his ears all the time. Same for Rohit. Then why should Hardik have 10 people at his ears?  Mumbai Indians need a definite comeback back as they have lost 4 matches and won only one.

Mumbai Indians (MI) skipper Hardik Pandya was helpless when Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) captain Rajat Patidar took the aerial route twice with unorthodox shots, guiding the ball to the boundary rope.

Read More: Watch: Phil Salt-Tim David unbelievable catch near the boundary line in MI vs RCB match IPL 2025

This was one of the most highlighted moments of the MI vs RCB, IPL 2025 match 20, when the leaders from these two teams faced off against each other. It was Patidar who made the final statement last night.

Hardik Pandya took the responsibility to bowl the 13th over of RCB's innings. Patidar was on the strike; Pandya delivered a good length, well out of the off-stump delivery, which Patidar dealt with his unique version of a ramp shot. The ball passed flying over the wicketkeeper's head for a boundary. In the same over, he managed to pull out another improvised shot for a 4. With those shots Patidar produced, Pandya had nothing to do; that was pure skill and fearless batting execution from the 31-year-old right-handed batter. Rajat bagged 64 off 32, with five 4s and four 6s with a 200.00 strike rate, which helped his team to exceed the total over 200 within the 20-overs limit.

In this Hardik Pandya over, Patidar avoided a possible serious injury. It was the delivery before the second boundary of the over; Patidar again tried something unique but could not execute it as he misjudged the bounce. The ball went straight and hit Patidar's helmet grill; the game paused for a moment, and medical assistants rushed onto the field for precautionary check-ups. Patidar was ready to bat after getting some treatment. At the following delivery of the incident, Patidar replied with the second boundary.

The target would have been 260+ if Bumrah missed match vs RCB.

- Absolute domination from batters.
- Virat Kohli and Rajat Patidar were brilliant.
- Jitesh giving finishing touch.
- All MI bowlers conceded at 10+ economy except Bumrah.#MIvsRCB #MIvRCB pic.twitter.com/DrnXqUFK4i

— Inside out (@INSIDDE_OUT) April 7, 2025

Mumbai Indians tried hard but it was RCB's moment 

Batting first, RCB got 221 in exchange of 5 wickets on the scoreboard. Mumbai Indians tried hard to do chase the target. Despite Tilak Varma's 56 and captain Hardik Pandya's 42, Mumbai Indians could not make it to the finish line—RCB won by 12 runs. At the end of IPL 2025 match 20, RCB remains in the third spot with 6 points after 4 games, whereas Mumbai Indians are in 8th place with 2 points in 5 games.