Hardik Pandya Hails Mahieka Sharma After Paparazzi Incident

• Hardik Pandya's all-around performance (59* runs, 1 wicket) led India to a 101-run victory over South Africa in the opening T20I.
• Pandya gave a "special mention" to his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma, crediting her positive influence on his life.
• This acknowledgment follows Pandya's recent criticism of paparazzi for invasively photographing Mahieka.
• Mahieka Sharma, a model and yoga instructor, and Hardik publicly confirmed their relationship in October 2025.

Why It Matters: It highlights public figures' struggle with media intrusion and defending loved ones.