Fact check: Hardik Pandya was not driving black Ferrari shirtless on Mumbai roads ahead of IPL 2026

Hardik Pandya is basking in the glory of the T20 World Cup win and soaking in love while he showers his girlfriend Mahieka with affection, gifts, and recently, a swanky, ultra-luxurious Ferrari 12Cilindri. Hardik and Mahieka performed a puja for their car, and the video and photos were shared by both of them on Instagram.

Mumbai Indians captain Hardik Pandya is gearing up for the IPL and has recently begun practice. Lately, the cricketer was mobbed while driving his ₹12 crore luxurious Ferrari 12Cilindri on Mumbai roads. Viral videos show Hardik in the driver’s seat, and he appeared shirtless. With low light conditions, fans and passersby hovered around to take videos and photos of him seated inside the car.

The videos went viral, and netizens concluded that the cricketer was shirtless, flaunting his car and tattoos.

A clip on X and Instagram suggested that Hardik Pandya was spotted shirtless while driving his new Ferrari 12Cilindri after a practice session in Mumbai. This claim is false. Verified footage and images from the session clearly show Pandya wearing a maroon sleeveless t-shirt, which closely matches his skin tone. Hardik is not shirtless.

Meanwhile, on Saturday, the Mumbai Indians kicked off its first-ever fan festival, The MIX – A Mumbai Indians Experience, for fans and supporters in Mumbai. Day one of the event saw appearances from MI skipper Hardik Pandya, former captain Rohit Sharma, and Team India’s recent World Cup-winning captain Suryakumar Yadav, who interacted with fans on stage and joined in the celebrations. Several other players were seen dancing and vibing to live performances, including a high-octane set by rapper DIVINE.

A viral video from the event shows Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, and Mahieka Sharma enjoying the music and dancing along with the crowd. Hardik and Mahieka were dancing while Rohit held his daughter in his arms.

The festival also featured performances by artists like Nucleya and Sanju Rathod, blending sport and entertainment into a unique fan experience that captured Mumbai’s vibrant spirit.

The IPL begins on March 28, 2026. Owned by Nita Ambani, the Mumbai Indians’ match against the Kolkata Knight Riders will take place on March 29, 2026.