The national hangover from India’s T20 World Cup 2026 win is still in full swing, but while most are rewatching the final over on loop, social media sleuths have pivoted to a different drama. The "Pandya Pride"—the once-inseparable bond between cricketer brothers Hardik and Krunal—is under a public scrutiny.
While the country celebrated in the streets on March 8, eagle-eyed fans noticed a loud, awkward silence coming from one specific corner of the internet.
The silence that spoke volumes
In the high-stakes world of celebrity siblings, an Instagram post isn't just a post—it’s a public validation of their love and support. But fans were quick to notice that following India's win, there was no congratulatory "proud brother" shoutout from Krunal Pandya, nor a celebratory story from his wife, Pankhuri Sharma on social media.
Fans also noticed Krunal Pandya and his wife Pankhuri's stadium absence. Unlike previous years where the family was spotted in the stands cheering for Hardik Pandya, Krunal and Pankhuri were nowhere to be seen during the T20 World Cup 2026.
The Digital Cold War: Fans also pointed out that the couple hasn't liked Hardik’s recent posts, which is a huge shift for a family that used to celebrate every festival and milestone as a single unit.
Mahieka Sharma: Hardik Pandya's new lucky charm
While Krunal stayed quiet, the stadium was buzzing with news about someone else. Model and actress Mahieka Sharma was seen ringside throughout the tournament, often seen comforting Hardik’s son, Agastya, in the stadium too.
After the final win, the much in love couple were impossible to ignore. Hardik publicly credited his girlfriend Mahieka for his comeback, calling her his "lucky charm" and even "Meri Missus" during the field celebrations. For many fans, this public "hard-launch" feels like the catalyst for the current Pandya family feud.
"Since Mahieka has come into my life, I have only been winning," Hardik shared in a post-match interview, hugging the trophy.
The "Team Natasa" vs. "Team Mahieka" divide
The rift rumours aren't just about a new relationship; they’re tangled in the aftermath of Hardik’s divorce from Natasa Stankovic in July 2024.
The Loyalty Split: Reports suggest that Krunal and Pankhuri have remained extremely close to Natasa and Agastya, often spotted together while Hardik has moved into a new life with Mahieka. An X user Amar�� @KUNGFU_PANDYA_0 wrote, "Before Mahieka Sharma came into Hardik Pandya’s life, he used to celebrate all festivals with his brother Krunal and his sister-in-law, and they used to live together. But after Mahieka came, they started living separately. Krunal and Pankhuri didn’t even wish Hardik on his birthday. Now they don’t even like each other’s Instagram posts. It feels like Mahieka Sharma has completely changed Hardik(sic)."
Another X user, Vipin Tiwari @Vipintiwari952, posted, "Hardik Pandya has always shared a close bond with his brother Krunal Pandya and his sister-in-law. But lately, things don’t seem the same. After his divorce from Natasha Stankovic, the equation appears to have changed a bit. Krunal and his wife were seen with Natasha, while Hardik seems to be mostly with Mahieka, attending pujas and other events.
"What surprised many is that even after Hardik recently won an ICC trophy, Krunal and his wife didn’t post anything about Hardik on social media. They also weren’t seen attending the Indian team’s game, so is there everything fine between the brothers?
"The only known tension earlier came in 2024, when both Hardik and Krunal were victims of a 4-crore cheating incident involving their stepbrother Vaibhav Pandya. Apart from that, there hasn’t been any clear reason in public."
The Stepbrother Scandal: Some point back to the 2024 cheating scam involving stepbrother Vaibhav Pandya (a 4.3 crore fraud) as the original fracture point that tested the brothers' unity.
However, not everyone is convinced that there is tension. A different user noted, "Speculation aside, the bond between Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya has always been strong. Sometimes social media doesn’t show the full story."
From Baroda streets to separate lives
The reason this hits fans so hard is the Pandya brothers' backstory. We grew up watching the Pandya brothers—two kids from Vadodara who shared a single dream of becoming cricketers one day. And so they did! But now, seeing them move in separate circles feels like the end of an era for one of Indian cricket’s most famous brotherhood.
Is it a permanent fracture or just a family needing space to navigate a massive life transition? Only the Pandyas know for sure.