Hyderabad has turned into a cricket carnival, and the reason is simple – Hardik Pandya. In a rare move for a domestic T20 match, the highly awaited Baroda vs Gujarat clash in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been officially shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, all because of the massive fan frenzy surrounding the Indian all-rounder.
Tournament officials confirmed that the decision came after they witnessed unusually huge crowds gathering near team hotels, training areas, and ticket counters, far beyond what the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy usually attracts. And this surge, they say, is almost entirely thanks to Hardik Pandya’s star power.
“The enthusiasm for Hardik Pandya is unbelievable. Fan turnout, enquiries, and overall crowd movement exceeded our projections by a huge margin. To ensure safety and smooth match operations, we decided to shift the match to Rajiv Gandhi Stadium,” a senior official explained.
A Venue Fit for a Superstar
The Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, which regularly hosts international fixtures and IPL games, was the obvious choice for the sudden spike in demand. With stronger security systems and a much larger capacity, it can handle crowds of this scale far better than the originally allotted venue.
In fact, Hyderabad has already witnessed scenes one would usually expect during an IPL night – fans lining up for tickets hours in advance, crowding outside practice nets, waving banners, and filling social media feeds with anticipation posts, all just to catch a glimpse of Hardik in action.
A Domestic Match With an IPL-Level Atmosphere
The Baroda vs Gujarat match is part of India’s premier domestic T20 competition, the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. But with the venue shift and the buzz around Pandya’s return to domestic cricket, the fixture is shaping up to be one of the most-watched matches in the tournament’s history.
Fans are expecting fireworks, and given Hardik’s presence, the atmosphere is likely to resemble a full-blown international game.
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