In the Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Vidarbha, representing Baroda, Team India`s star all-rounder Hardik Pandya smashed nearly half a dozen maximums, out of which five he smashed in a single over.
Facing 92 deliveries, Hardik accumulated 133 runs, which was laced with eight boundaries and 11 maximums.
Coming to bat at number seven in his first match of the competition, Hardik went all guns blazing and registered his first List A ton in his 119th match. Riding on his century, Baroda also reached the score of 293 runs for the loss of nine wickets in 50 overs.
In the 39th over, the 32-year-old cricketer garnered a total of 34 runs in Vidarbha`s spinner Parth Rekhade`s over. He smashed five maximums and a four. The first five balls of the left-arm spinner went flying over the ropes, while the final ball was hit for a boundary.
6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,6⃣,4⃣ 🔥
A maiden List A 💯 brought up in some style 🔥
Hardik Pandya was on 66 off 62 balls against Vidarbha…and then he went berserk in the 39th over to complete his 100, smashing five sixes and a four 💪
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/MFFOqaBuhP#VijayHazareTrophy… pic.twitter.com/pQwvwnI7lb
— BCCI Domestic (@BCCIdomestic) January 3, 2026
Hardik Pandya`s knock included a total of just 31 singles as he scored most of his runs with the help of maximums and boundaries.
Later, Team India will play a three-match ODI series followed by five T20Is against the “Black Caps” from January 11 to 31. Later, both teams will engage in the T20 World Cup 2026.
The “Men in Blue” have been placed in Group A of the global showpiece along with teams such as Namibia, the Netherlands, Pakistan, and the United States of America. On the other hand, New Zealand is placed in Group D, which consists of the likes of teams such as Afghanistan, Canada, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates.
India will open their campaign against the United States of America on February 7 at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, whereas the Kiwis will play their first fixture against Afghanistan on February 8 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.
The high-octane clash between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan, is scheduled to be played on February 15 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
(With PTI Inputs)
