In an amusing twist during the post-match coverage of the West Indies vs. Papua New Guinea Group C game at the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Hardik Pandya found himself at the center of an unexpected and hilarious gaffe. As viewers tuned in to watch the summary of the match, they were met with the Indian vice-captain Hardik Pandya’s image in place of Roston Chase, who had just played a match-winning knock for the West Indies. This blunder by the broadcasters instantly went viral, rekindling old jokes about Pandya’s Caribbean-like demeanor and appearance.
Hardik Pandya’s pic in the West Indies vs Papua New Guinea scorecard. You know the results! Reason you don’t:#T20WorldCup pic.twitter.com/TGIeWaEWE0
— Cricket Freak (@cricketingfever) June 3, 2024
Hardik Pandya’s picture in the West Indies Vs Papua New Guinea scorecard, Pandya replaced everyone.
Big blunder from Hotstar! @DisneyPlusHS #t20worldcup2024 pic.twitter.com/O3Dhtdt73i — 7G_Hotspot ___ (@VImvinit007) June 3, 2024
Hardik Pandya’s photo in the West Indies Vs Papua New Guinea scorecard. ,
– A glitch from Hotstar!#T20WorldCup #India #INDvsIRE pic.twitter.com/NLBg5kn693 — No Name (@Kaptaan5487) June 3, 2024
The broadcast displayed Hardik Pandya’s picture on the scorecard during the West Indies vs PNG match. _pic.twitter.com/dRWhKGvpCi
— Vipin Tiwari (@Vipintiwari952_) June 3, 2024
Hardik Pandya’s photo in the West Indies Vs Papua New Guinea scorecard. ,
-A glitch from Hotstar! pic.twitter.com/ftuweQM50J — Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) June 3, 2024
Caribbean Connection
The mix-up during the broadcast brought back memories of past comments comparing Pandya’s lifestyle and persona to that of a typical Caribbean cricketer. Pandya’s brother, Krunal, once humorously noted, “If you see a picture of Hardik as a child, you would think that this kid is from the Caribbean, not an Indian kid.” This sentiment was echoed by former India captain Sourav Ganguly, who remarked in a 2018 interview, “I met Hardik Pandya the other day, it seemed like he is Jamaican-born. He can’t be from Baroda!”
The Error That Sparked the Internet
The broadcasting error occurred during the summary of the West Indies’ thrilling victory over Papua New Guinea. Instead of showing Roston Chase, Brandon King, and other players from the match, the graphics repeatedly displayed Pandya’s image. Fans quickly took to social media, sharing screenshots and poking fun at the mistake. One fan quipped, “Is Hardik Pandya from the West Indies now?” while another joked, “Pandya’s Caribbean vacation is official!”
Hardik Pandya’s Performance and Social Media Reception
Despite the mix-up, Pandya’s recent form has been a topic of much discussion. Leading up to the T20 World Cup, Pandya’s performance in the IPL 2024 had been underwhelming, both as a bowler and a batsman. However, in the warm-up match against Bangladesh, he reminded everyone of his prowess by scoring a quickfire 40 off 23 balls and taking a crucial wicket. This performance was crucial as he steps into the vice-captaincy role, hoping to guide India to another T20 World Cup title.
The Importance of Hardik Pandya for Team India
Hardik Pandya’s role in the Indian cricket team is pivotal. As a pace-bowling all-rounder, he brings much-needed balance to the squad. His ability to finish games with the bat and chip in with important wickets makes him a valuable asset. The onus lies on him to perform consistently and lead by example, especially with the added responsibility of vice-captaincy.