Hardik Pandya craze forces SMAT tie to be shifted to Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium

With security concerns flagged, Baroda's next fixture in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy has been moved to a different venue.

The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025 game between Baroda and Gujarat has been relocated to the Rajiv Gandhi International stadium in Hyderabad. In Baroda’s previous game against Punjab, play was interrupted multiple times due to pitch invasions as fans rushed out to meet Hardik Pandya. With security concerns flagged, Baroda’s next fixture has been moved to a different venue.

Hardik Pandya reason behind SMAT tie relocation

As per reports, the tie between Baroda and Gujarat, scheduled to take place on December 4, has been moved to the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in order to provide extra security. The game was initially supposed to be held at the Gymkhana Ground in Hyderabad. However, following the pitch invasions in the previous game and keeping in mind the security of Hardik Pandya and other players, the decision to relocate the game to an international venue has been taken.

Hardik did not have the best of the outings with the ball on his return to cricket in the SMAT 2025 game against Punjab. The all-rounder conceded 52 runs in four overs and managed to pick just one wicket in the game. He only batter he managed to dismiss in the contest was Anmolpreet Singh as he got rid of the Punjab star for 69 runs in 14th over.

However, Pandya made up for his poor performance with the ball with a stellar 77-run knock in the run-chase. Hardik stayed unbeaten on 77 runs off 42 deliveries, guiding Baroda to a comfortable 7-wicket win against Punjab. Although his innings started on a slow note, the all-rounder picked up pace towards the end and finished with 7 fours and 4 sixes to his name, maintaining a strike rate of 183.33.