Former South Africa batter Herschelle Gibbs has taken a subtle dig at India’s Hardik Pandya after the all-rounder suggested that pitches in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026 should be flatter.
Reacting on X (formerly known as Twitter), Gibbs wrote, “You see more skill when pitches aren’t flat,” adding a wink emoji.
You see more skill when pitches aren’t flat😉 https://t.co/ngRFJ3iudy
— Herschelle Gibbs (@hershybru) February 13, 2026
The former Proteas batter went a step further during a fan interaction. When a fan described Hardik Pandya as a “very dangerous T20 batter,” Gibbs replied, “Dangerous batters don’t complain about pitches mate.” Another fan then compared him to Gibbs, saying he never complained. Gibbs responded bluntly, “Go back to sleep.”
Pandya’s comments came after India’s commanding 93-run win over Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
After being named Player of the Match, Pandya suggested that the pitches should be flatter. India have played their first two matches on slower surfaces in Mumbai and Delhi, where the ball has gripped and turned, especially during the middle overs.
In the match against Namibia, India raced to 104 in the first seven overs but lost momentum as the spinners tightened control. From 104/2, they slipped to 124/4 in 12 overs on what appeared to be a slightly slow wicket.
Pandya then stabilized the innings before launching an aggressive counterattack. He smashed 52 off 28 balls, hitting four sixes and four fours, including the longest six of the 2026 T20 World Cup, a massive 109-meter hit off Bernard Scholtz. He also delivered with the ball, taking 2 wickets for just 21 runs in his four overs.
India currently sit at the top of the table with four points and will face Pakistan next on Sunday in one of the most anticipated clashes of the tournament.
