In a highly charged Elite Group B clash Vijay Hazare Trophy 2025-26 at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot, Baroda opposed Vidarbha January 3. Captain of Vidarbha Tough Dubey won the toss and was elected to bowl for the first time, setting the stage for a clear-sky batting contest. As Baroda’s star all-rounder, the match quickly turned into a spectacle Hardik Pandya He put in a match-defining performance that led his team to a huge result
Hardik Pandya’s explosive hundred stuns Vidarbha
Pandya reached the crease after the Vidarbha pacers’ first blows, turning Baroda to 71-5 after 19.1 overs. Yash Thakur and Nachiket Bhute. The Indian all-round warrior stood on board with his brother Krunal Pandya (23 from 50), making an important 65-run stand for the sixth wicket. Pandya accelerated relentlessly and reached his fifty in the 39th over before unleashing pure carnage against the left-arm spinner. Parth Rekhade.
Needing 34 to reach three figures from 66 off 62 balls, Pandya smashed five consecutive sixes – long on, covers, mid-wicket and more – before being sealed with a boundary for just 34 runs. Sequence: 6, 6, 6, 6, 6, 4. Online fans went wild, flooding social media with clips of the attack and hailing it as one of the most memorable performances in domestic cricket. This first list turned out to be a total of 68 balls
Pandya smashed 133 (8 fours, 11 sixes, SR 144.57) off 92 balls. Atharva Taide Thakur off 258-8 in 45.2 overs. Vishnu Solanki (26 off 17) and late blooming Mahesh Pithiya (18* off 14) and Karan Umatt (13* off 11) pushed Baroda to 293-9 in 50 overs (RR 5.86). Thakur took 4-64 while Rekhade (2-80) endured punishment.
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Here’s how the fans reacted:
🚨BIG SHOW FOR HARDIK PANDYA🚨
Hardik Pandya scored a century in 68 balls in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. At one point, Pandya scored 68 runs in 62 balls. pic.twitter.com/wuVSYj6Rer
— 𝐎𝐧𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐞𝐭 (@gurlabhsingh610) January 3, 2026
HARDIK PANDYA IS ABSOLUTELY IN BEAST MODE! 🔥💥
Brutal 68-ball hundred against Vidarbha in Vijay Hazare Trophy 💪🏏
Power. Confidence. Statement tapping.#HardikPandya #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/8GGfMwGGJ7— Ganesh 🇮🇳 (@GaneshVerse) January 3, 2026
No one passed 30. Then come Hardik Pandya. 117*(81) runs for Baroda.
Clutch GOAT Hardik Pandya. 🗿 pic.twitter.com/ixhuFiJaCI
— Selfless⁴⁵ (@SelflessCricket) January 3, 2026
– He is playing his first match in this VHT.
– Baroda came to bat at 71/5.
– No batter crossed the 30-run mark.
– He broke his face.
– He scored 133 (93) points.
– He hits 11 sixes and 8 fours.HARDIK PANDYA – MVP OF INDIA. 🫡🇮🇳 pic.twitter.com/LZUUzFMr5L
— Tanuj (@ImTanujSingh) January 3, 2026
If a clutch has a human form, it’s Hardik Pandya pic.twitter.com/KZdWNN9qxI
— ROHIT¹⁸🇮🇳 (@bvrrrohit) January 3, 2026
HARDIK PANDYA’S INNINGS TODAY AT VHT:
-First 62 balls – 66 runs.
-Last 29 balls – 67 runs (231.03 SR).#hardikpandya #VijayHazareTrophy pic.twitter.com/M3vKNJCwxg— urstruly (@VikashChou70911) January 3, 2026
Take a bow for Hardik Pandya
-He scored 133 runs off 92 balls with 11 sixes and 8 fours for Baroda in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
What a clutch bowler Hardik Pandya is! pic.twitter.com/GlEro4frqT
— Ashu (@AshuKharwa66211) January 3, 2026
HARDIK PANDYA’S INNINGS TODAY AT VHT:
First 62 balls – 66 runs.
Last 29 balls – 67 runs (231.03 SR).– DESTRUCTION OF HARDIK PANDYA. 🥶🔥 pic.twitter.com/l8pOkprql3
— Cricnow (@CricketNew73688) January 3, 2026
🚨 HARDIK PANDYA 133 OFF 92 BALLS 🚨
– Baroda: 71/5
– No batsman has scored more than 30 runs
– One man show by HardikGREAT NEWS FOR INDIA 🇮🇳#HardikPandya #VijayHazareTrophy2025 pic.twitter.com/oeVO8WsZ1z
— Niraj Kumar (@Nirajku11362609) January 3, 2026
Hardik Pandya is on fire 🔥
133, 71/5 with Baroda just 92 runs off and nobody else has even hit 30! Talk about carrying the team on your shoulders. pic.twitter.com/dkxdCuecMc
— MrFantus (@Mrfantus09) January 3, 2026
Baroda sets batting total against Vidarbha in VHT 2025-26
Baroda’s innings got off to a shaky start, Amit Pasi fell for a duck Nitya Pandya Bhute reached 15 before striking early. It deepened like a collapse Priyanshu Finance (16), Atit Sheth (21), Jitesh Sharma (9) and Krunal departed struggling on 71-5. The Powerplay produced just 43 runs but Pandya’s counter-attacks changed the momentum. A vital partnership of 45 and 77 with Solanki Raj Limbani (10) took Baroda to 293-9 despite the loss of nine wickets.
Vidarbha now face a steep chase on a straight Rajkot track that offers pace and bounce. Pandya’s blitz not only boosted Baroda’s semi-final hopes in the domestic 50-over competition but also marked his peak form ahead of India’s white-ball commitments, including the 2026 T20 World Cup. Supporters have been calling his name for a long time, cementing his knock as a highlight of VHT 2025-26.
Also WATCH: Fan Hardik Pandya reacts angrily after refusing a selfie request at the event
