He Hates Hardik: Stunned Fans Slam Irfan Pathan After He Targets Hardik Pandya For India's Loss In 2nd T20I
Published - 12 Dec 2025, 08:08 AM
Team India suffered a crushing defeat against South Africa in the second T20I of the ongoing five-match series. After winning the series-opener by 101 runs earlier this week, the Men in Blue failed to sustain the winning momentum and suffered a 51-run loss in the second game as South Africa drew level.
Batting first, South Africa, who were all out for just 74 runs in the first T20I, posted a daunting total of 213/4 in the allotted 20 overs. Quinton de Kock starred with the bat for the Proteas, scoring 90 runs off just 46 balls with the help of 5 fours and 7 sixes.
The likes of Aiden Markram, Donovan Ferreira and David Miller also came up with crucial cameos to propel their team to the big total.
Also Read: "We can’t rely on Abhishek Sharma": Suryakumar Yadav’s bold statement after India’s loss in 2nd T20I
In reply, India hardly looked in contention to chase down the big total and were bowled out for just 162 runs. They lost the wickets of both the openers - Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma - as well as captain Suryakumar Yadav inside the powerplay and just could not recover.
Tilak Varma waged a lone battle for the hosts but his efforts were not enough to take the team over the line. The southpaw scored 62 runs off 34 balls and was the only Indian batter to reach the 30-run mark. For South Africa. Ottneil Baartman impressed with the ball, taking 4 wickets while Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Lutho Sipamla picked up 2 wickets each.
Irfan Pathan takes a dig at Hardik Pandya:
Soon after the second T20I between India and South Africa came to an end, former cricketer-turned-commentator Irfan Pathan took a sly dig at Hardik Pandya. The India allrounder had delivered a Player of the Match performance in the first T20I but could not replicate his heroics in the second match.
Hardik Pandya failed to impress with both bat and ball in the match. With the ball, he gave away 34 runs in 3 overs without taking a wicket before being dismissed for 20 runs off 23 balls.
With Hardik Pandya not being able to do well, Irfan Pathan took to X (formerly Twitter) to state that while Hardik Pandya looked solid in the first T20I, he looked clueless on a surface where the conditions were bowling-friendly. He also pointed out that Hardik Pandya failed to do well because he did not move his feet on a tough pitch, writing:
"It’s amazing how the game works. Just a day ago, on a different pitch, Hardik looked solid. But on a surface that offered something for the bowlers, his stand-and-deliver style didn’t click ,because when the pitch lacks pace or bounce, you’ve got to move your feet."
Fans slam Irfan Pathan for targeting Hardik Pandya:
This is not the first time that Irfan Pathan has taken a dig at Hardik Pandya. Even in the past, the former India allrounder never shied away from targeting Pandya. And as Pathan posted his latest message for Pandya, a number of fans were quick to call him out. Here are some of those reactions.
I wonder where your tweet was in the last match when Hardik won us the game single
— mutual.stark (@mutualstark) December 11, 2025
handedly.
It's too easy to blame someone for one match when literally the whole batting lineup except a couple of batsmen froze under pressure.
Both the top performers of the 2007 WC final are… https://t.co/9RPQkSGH23 pic.twitter.com/cCR9tGKlpY
It's amazing how he targets some particular players specially Virat and Hardik are always in his hitlist, any comments on Gill's and Sky's techniques? https://t.co/DipgeMDV8H
— Sarthak Bhattacharjee (@SarthakBhatta13) December 11, 2025
Really irfan taking A Dig On the Best white ball all rounder ?
— CRICitism (@CRICitism) December 11, 2025
A Pitch where 1 Team Got bundled out for 74 and in the Other team all Of the rest batters scored with less than 140 Sr when Hardik was striking At 210 Sr ???
Expected better https://t.co/VWWq5uW25f pic.twitter.com/sJ26Me9BdS
I have Irfan Pathan Story. He is literally the nicest celebrity I have met. I don’t known what happens to him when topic is Pandya Brothers https://t.co/jh6tHjzgeI
— Neel (@hypocrite_nri) December 12, 2025
He hates Hardik, okay, that’s clear. But when his description of everything is so wrong, how does anyone take him seriously? https://t.co/S5q28du2UI
— Aaditya Narayan (@AadityaN_28) December 11, 2025
wtf????? Haven't seen bigger clown than Irfan Pathan man, this guy literally waits for failures of Hardik Pandya.
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) December 11, 2025
Just out of hate he is calling tonight's pitch a bowling friendly & pitch for previous match a flat one when reality is exactly opposite.
Hardik literally scored… https://t.co/088kLwwO7v
I'm convinced he has an agenda against hardik because the way he has worded this is ridiculous. Also no mention of hardik when he was the match winner in the previous game. What a biased agenda driven fraud you are https://t.co/Uw90qCEjIW
— Raswanth (@Raswant63961888) December 11, 2025
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