Is romance brewing for Hardik Pandya? The Indian cricket sensation recently dropped a series of Instagram stories featuring model Mahieka Sharma, just hours after they were spotted together at Mumbai airport. These cozy snaps, shared a day before Pandya’s 32nd birthday on October 11, strongly hint at a confirmed relationship with the 24-year-old.
Indian cricketer Hardik Pandya has all but confirmed his relationship with model Mahieka Sharma. (Image credit: Agencies)
Among the shared images, one particularly captivating shot captures Hardik and Mahieka striking a pose on a pristine beach, hinting at a luxurious and private birthday celebration. Another monochrome photograph from their journey further underscored the joyful new chapter unfolding in Hardik’s personal life.
Beyond the romantic revelations, Pandya also shared heartwarming glimpses of his family life. His Instagram stories featured precious moments with his son Agastya, his mother, and his grandmother. A peek at a cozy cake-cutting ceremony rounded off the intimate pre-birthday celebrations, offering fans a fuller picture of his personal happiness.
Meanwhile, on the cricketing front, significant changes are underway. Young talent Shubman Gill has been appointed as India’s new ODI captain, set to lead the team in the upcoming three-match series against Australia, which commences October 19. He takes over the leadership from Rohit Sharma. Interestingly, seasoned players Rohit and Virat Kohli, whose last appearance in this format was during India’s triumphant 2025 Champions Trophy campaign, are returning to the squad specifically as specialist batters.
This appointment signals a fresh era for Indian cricket. Gill, who already holds the Test captaincy, will now extend his leadership to the ODI format, in addition to his role as vice-captain in T20Is. His rise to captaincy follows India’s commanding victory in his maiden Test as skipper—a dominant innings-and-140-run triumph over the West Indies. Complementing the new leadership, Shreyas Iyer has been named as Gill’s deputy in ODIs, although Hardik Pandya and Rishabh Pant continue to be sidelined due to their respective injuries.