Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya found himself in the spotlight once again, this time for his fiery on-field reactions during India’s high-voltage Asia Cup clash against Pakistan. In just the first over of the contest, Pandya was caught on camera hurling abuses at wicket-keeper Sanju Samson, highlighting the intensity and pressure surrounding this much-anticipated encounter.
India and Pakistan were meeting for the second time in the tournament, with both sides carrying the baggage of their controversial first meeting. Emotions were already running high, and the Indian camp seemed to be struggling with the weight of expectations.
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With the new ball in hand, Pandya nearly struck early, creating a golden opportunity for India. However, a lapse in the field from Abhishek Sharma allowed Pakistan a lucky escape. Pandya’s frustration only grew when, on the following delivery, Sahibzada Farhan nudged the ball into the outfield. Samson, collecting the ball away from the stumps, missed a chance to apply pressure with a potential run-out.
Behen ke pakode 🥶🥶
Hardik control bhai #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/RN6Hs0wzCe— Thandaitweets (@mohit_blogg) September 21, 2025
The all-rounder’s visible anger boiled over as he demanded sharper awareness from his wicket-keeper. His abusive outburst at Samson reflected just how tense the atmosphere had become. In such Indo-Pak matches, even the smallest errors can ignite tempers, reminding fans of the immense pressure players face in cricket’s fiercest rivalry.
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Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Agha(c), Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris(w), Mohammad Nawaz, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Abrar Ahmed
India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson(w), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
