Star India all-rounder Hardik Pandya delivered a superhuman performance in the Vijay Hazare Trophy on Thursday, clobbering nine sixes and two boundaries to score 75 off just 31 balls at a strike-rate of 241.94. Playing for Baroda against Chandigarh, Pandya walked in at No. 6 with his team struggling at 213/5 and helped propel them to a massive total of 391 in 50 overs.

His innings came just five days after a sensational 68-ball century against Vidarbha in his season opener, taking his aggregate to 208 runs in just two matches. Pandya received support from wicket-keeper batter Jitesh Sharma, who smashed 73 off 33 balls, while Priyanshu Moliya also scored a century earlier in the innings.

Despite not being included in India’s three-match ODI series against New Zealand due to workload management and being restricted from bowling 10 overs, Pandya opened the bowling for Baroda on Thursday and took the first wicket of the Chandigarh innings, signaling that he is nearing full bowling fitness.

"Hardik Pandya has not been cleared by the BCCI CoE to bowl 10 overs in a match and considering the ICC Men's T20 World Cup to follow, his workload is being managed," the BCCI said in its release.

Elsewhere in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, Ruturaj Gaikwad also continued his fine form, scoring another century to level with Ankit Bawne’s record for most centuries in the tournament’s history, both now on 15. While Bawne took 101 matches to reach the milestone, Gaikwad achieved it in just 59 innings.