Hyderabad, Dec 4 (NationPress) The return of Hardik Pandya created such an immense wave of excitement among fans that event organizers had no alternative but to move the Baroda–Gujarat SMAT match to a venue with a greater capacity. Initially slated to take place at the Gymkhana Ground, the match was shifted to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, a venue renowned for hosting major international events and IPL matches. This venue offers enhanced security features and superior crowd management capabilities, making it the optimal choice for accommodating such a large audience.

Officials reported that the decision to relocate was prompted by a noticeably larger than usual influx of fans near team hotels, practice areas, and ticket sales locations—figures that far surpassed typical attendance for domestic tournaments. In Baroda's last match against Punjab, gameplay was halted multiple times due to pitch invasions, as fans rushed to meet Hardik.

This surge in attendance, according to organizers, is solely fueled by the anticipation to witness Hardik Pandya play, whose popularity continues to draw fans in staggering numbers.

“The excitement surrounding Hardik Pandya is simply astounding. The fan turnout, inquiries, and overall movement have exceeded our forecasts by a significant margin. To maintain safety and ensure smooth operations during the match, we opted to relocate it to Rajiv Gandhi Stadium,” stated a senior official involved in organizing the event.

Hardik made his return to competitive cricket after a lengthy injury hiatus on Tuesday, scoring an impressive 77 runs off just 42 balls for Baroda as they successfully chased a target of 223 runs against Punjab, securing their second consecutive win in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

He had been sidelined following an injury sustained during India’s Asia Cup Super Fours match against Sri Lanka and had missed the ODI and T20I series against Australia, as well as the ongoing 50-over series against South Africa.

However, after departing the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru and receiving RTP (Return to Play) clearance from the board, Hardik rejoined the Baroda squad, which is led by his brother Krunal Pandya, for the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.

On Thursday, Baroda triumphed over Gujarat by eight wickets in an Elite Group C match, achieving their third victory in five matches to ascend to the top of the table, while Gujarat is positioned second with an equal number of wins but a lower net run rate.

After winning the toss and opting to bowl first, Baroda managed to restrict Gujarat to just 70 runs, with Raj Limbani taking 3 wickets for just 5 runs. In reply, Baroda chased down the target in just 6.4 overs, losing only two wickets.