India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has opened up in regards to the constructive affect his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma has had on each his private life and cricketing journey.Hardik confirmed his relationship with Mahieka in late 2025, over a yr after his July 2024 divorce from Natasa Stankovic. Since then, the couple has ceaselessly been noticed collectively, with Mahieka additionally seen spending time with Hardik and Natasa’s son, Agastya Pandya.Talking to JioStar, Hardik admitted that he had not totally tapped into his potential as a batter.“After the final IPL, I realised that I actually wished to play to my full potential. I believe till now, I have never utilised greater than 40 per cent of my batting potential. What I do know as a cricketer, what I think about, what I manifest, and the way I observe, haven’t translated into efficiency by greater than 40 per cent. I took a while in my life to determine the way to carry that out. That is when Mahieka got here into my life. We began speaking in regards to the sport and the way to carry that youngster again,” he stated.“Mahieka helped me rediscover that pleasure for the sport that I all the time had. I went behind the scenes, labored actually laborious, and had a great quantity of batting periods. There have been days after I was on the bottom for six to seven hours,” Hardik added.
A Valentine’s tattoo and a promise
On Valentine’s Day 2026, Hardik made his emotions everlasting by getting the preliminary ‘M’ — for Mahieka — tattooed on the again of his neck.His tattoo artist, Sunny Bhanushali, founding father of Aliens Tattoo, revealed that what started as a easy thought advanced into an elaborate design that includes two leopards.Initially, Hardik wished simply the letter ‘M’ inked on his nape. Nevertheless, after discussions between the couple and the artist, the design grew to become extra layered and symbolic.The ultimate art work options two leopards representing their bond — one daring and fierce, pushed by ambition and charging forward with full potential; the opposite showing like a shadow, transferring gracefully and encompassing the letter ‘M’.“Hardik got here with the thought of an preliminary, however conversations revealed one thing a lot deeper. They described themselves as companions who amplify one another’s strengths. The leopard grew to become the proper metaphor — highly effective alone, unstoppable collectively,” Sunny stated.
“This tattoo will not be a ornament; it is a story completely carried. Some tattoos are requested, some are found — this piece was constructed by way of belief and emotion. When a tattoo displays an actual story, it stops being ink and turns into a reminiscence,” he added.The again of the neck was chosen intentionally — delicate when hidden, but highly effective when revealed — aligning with the cricketer’s imaginative and prescient. The intricate piece was created by Tushar Marane, lead artist at Aliens Tattoo and mentor at Aliens Tattoo Faculty, identified for his exact detailing.For Hardik, it’s greater than physique artwork — it’s a image of affection, development and a renewed starvation for the sport.