India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has opened up about the positive impact his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma has had on both his personal life and cricketing journey.Hardik confirmed his relationship with Mahieka in late 2025, over a year after his July 2024 divorce from Natasa Stankovic. Since then, the couple has frequently been spotted together, with Mahieka also seen spending time with Hardik and Natasa’s son, Agastya Pandya.Speaking to JioStar, Hardik admitted that he had not fully tapped into his potential as a batter.“After the last IPL, I realised that I really wanted to play to my full potential. I think until now, I haven’t utilised more than 40 per cent of my batting potential. What I know as a cricketer, what I imagine, what I manifest, and how I practice, have not translated into performance by more than 40 per cent. I took some time in my life to figure out how to bring that out. That’s when Mahieka came into my life. We started talking about the sport and how to bring that child back,” he said.“Mahieka helped me rediscover that excitement for the game that I always had. I went behind the scenes, worked really hard, and had a good amount of batting sessions. There were days when I was on the ground for six to seven hours,” Hardik added.
A Valentine’s tattoo and a promise
On Valentine’s Day 2026, Hardik made his feelings permanent by getting the initial ‘M’ — for Mahieka — tattooed on the back of his neck.His tattoo artist, Sunny Bhanushali, founder of Aliens Tattoo, revealed that what began as a simple idea evolved into an elaborate design featuring two leopards.Initially, Hardik wanted just the letter ‘M’ inked on his nape. However, after discussions between the couple and the artist, the design became more layered and symbolic.The final artwork features two leopards representing their bond — one bold and fierce, driven by ambition and charging ahead with full potential; the other appearing like a shadow, moving gracefully and encompassing the letter ‘M’.“Hardik came with the idea of an initial, but conversations revealed something much deeper. They described themselves as partners who amplify each other’s strengths. The leopard became the perfect metaphor — powerful alone, unstoppable together,” Sunny said.
“This tattoo is not a decoration; it’s a story permanently carried. Some tattoos are requested, some are discovered — this piece was built through trust and emotion. When a tattoo reflects a real story, it stops being ink and becomes a memory,” he added.The back of the neck was chosen deliberately — subtle when hidden, yet powerful when revealed — aligning with the cricketer’s vision. The intricate piece was created by Tushar Marane, lead artist at Aliens Tattoo and mentor at Aliens Tattoo School, known for his precise detailing.For Hardik, it is more than body art — it is a symbol of love, growth and a renewed hunger for the game.
