Indian cricket star Hardik Pandya fulfilled a promise made last year by gifting ₹10 lakh each to 11 Wankhede Stadium groundsmen who supported his late-night T20 World Cup training sessions, winning widespread praise across the cricketing world.
MUMBAI: In a sport that often celebrates the loudest moments, it is the quiet ones that say the most about a person’s character. Hardik Pandya just had one of those moments, and the cricketing world cannot stop talking about it.
During an IPL 2026 practice session at Wankhede Stadium, the Indian all-rounder fulfilled a promise he had made a year ago, gifting ₹10 lakh each to 11 groundsmen who had supported his gruelling late-night training sessions ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. For a total gesture of ₹1.1 crore, Pandya did not just write a cheque. He remembered.
Groundsmen are among the most invisible contributors to cricket. They prepare the pitches, maintain the outfield, and keep the stadium ready, often working through the night without a second thought from the players who depend on their work. When Pandya was putting in extra hours in the dark, long after the cameras had gone home, it was these eleven men who were there alongside him.
He noticed. He remembered. And he came back.
The gesture has drawn an outpouring of praise from fans, former players, and commentators, not just for the financial generosity but for what it represents. At a time when professional sport can feel increasingly transactional, Pandya’s decision to honour the people behind the scenes with both recognition and reward is a reminder that the best champions understand something important: no one gets there alone.
For the eleven groundsmen at Wankhede, it is a moment they are unlikely to ever forget. For Pandya, it is the kind of act that defines a legacy far beyond any six he has ever hit.
Some things matter more than the scoreboard.
