Team India's Hardik Pandya criticised paparazzi for clicking his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma from an inappropriate angle at a Bandra restaurant, calling it a breach of dignity and boundaries. The all-rounder urged media to act responsibly ahead of India’s first T20I against South Africa
Hardik Pandya (Pic: File Pic)
Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya took to his official social media handle to share a story alleging that his girlfriend, Mahieka Sharma, was photographed from an inappropriate angle.
"I understand that living in the public eye comes with attention and scrutiny, its's part of the life I've chose. But today something happened that crossed a line," his story read.
The cricketer then stated the incident of his girlfriend being recorded from an inappropriate angle.
"Mahieka was simply walking down a staircase at a Bandra restaurant when paparazzi decided to capture her from an angle that no woman deserves to be photographed from. A private moment was turned into cheap sensationalism. This isn't aboyt headlines or who clicked what, it's about basic respect. Women deserve dignity. Everyone deserves boundaries," read his story.
"To the media brother who work hard every day: I respect your hustle, and I always cooperate. But I'm requesting you all, please be a little more mindful. Not everything needs to be captured. Not every angle needs to be taken. Let's keep sime humanity in this game. Thank you," added Pandya.
The 32-year-old star all-rounder will soon be in action for the first T20I match between Team India and South Africa. The first T20I match is scheduled to be played on Tuesday at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
Shubman Gill has also been included in India's squad for the shortest format series. Earlier, he sustained a neck injury during the first Test match, following which the right-hander was ruled out of the second Test game and the ODI series against the Proteas.
Lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah will also feature in the contest. Earlier, he was provided rest for the three-match ODI series against the Proteas.
Meanwhile, South Africa welcomed back veteran David Miller as they field a full-strength squad for the series. Anrich Nortje is also returning, and several players will be using the series as an opportunity to showcase their skills ahead of the IPL auction on December 16.
The first match will mark the first meeting of both the teams in the format since the T20 World Cup 2024 final. The T20I series will also serve as a preparatory contest for both teams ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026.
Earlier, South Africa had registered a 2-0 whitewash against Team India in the Test series, whereas the "Men in Blue" clinched the ODI series by 2-1 against the visitors.
IND vs SA 1st T20I: Full Squads
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma(w), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, Sanju Samson, Arshdeep Singh, Harshit Rana.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Aiden Markram(c), Tony de Zorzi, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Reeza Hendricks, Ottneil Baartman, Donovan Ferreira, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde.
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