Hardik Pandya reveals reason behind Jacob Bethell celebration in semi-final
What's the story
India's star all-rounder, Hardik Pandya, has opened up about his celebration after the dismissal of Jacob Bethell in the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup semi-final. Pandya's direct hit from the deep late in England's innings ended Bethell's impressive century. The 32-year-old celebrated wildly after the wicket, trying to lift his teammates' spirits. India went on to win the contest by 7 runs to reach the final.
Zen mode
Pandya goes into his 'zen mode'
Pandya revealed that he went into his "zen mode" to keep his heart rate steady and execute the throw accurately. "One batter I had to get out from the field was Bethell, the way he was batting. I knew I had to keep calm and throw it where it was supposed to be," said Pandya in a video released by BCCI on X.
Emotional moment
Son Agastya and girlfriend Mahieka in the stands
The all-rounder also revealed that his reaction was fueled by the presence of his son Agastya and girlfriend Mahieka Sharma in the stands. "The reaction was also because my son came, and I wanted my son and Mahieka to enjoy this moment and feel how emotional I was," Pandya said. This personal connection added another layer to his on-field performance.
Bowling performance
Pandya's all-round brilliance
Before his brilliant fielding effort, Pandya had also made an impact with the ball. In the 19th over, he gave away nine runs and dismissed Sam Curran, who was looking to up the ante but was caught at mid-wicket. For his all-round performance, Pandya was named the match's impact player in the dressing room after India's victory.
Twitter Post
He is clutch!
𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝘾𝙡𝙪𝙩𝙘𝙝. 𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙄𝙢𝙥𝙖𝙘𝙩. 𝙃𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙃𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙞𝙠 𝙋𝙖𝙣𝙙𝙮𝙖! 🙌
— BCCI (@BCCI) March 7, 2026
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