The Buzz: Young Hardik Pandya smashes sixes around the ground
All the bantz, the jousts, and little bit of eavesdropping from the social media playground and beyond
ESPNcricinfo staff
28-Jun-2021 • Updated on 02-Jul-2021
Jul 2
Hardik Pandya throws back to his teen years - where he's batting like a pro already!
From 2011 - Just a kid with a bat and dreams of making it big If I can do it, anyone can pic.twitter.com/axJhOJqREf
— hardik pandya (@hardikpandya7) July 1, 2021
The party
Ben Stokes brought in his 30th birthday with a Ben Fest, with Wipeout style games, some awkward dancing, and lots of glitter. Welcome to your middle ages, Ben.
Shaz at the tennis
India have about a month before the start of their five-Test series against England. Coach Ravi Shastri enjoys the delights of the English summer in the meantime, popping over to Wimbledon for a spot of tennis.
July 1
Isolation doesn't mean you stop playing, does it? Glamorgan's Marnus Labuschagne and Michael Neser get some practice in while quaranting after they were identified as "potential close contacts" of team-mate Nick Selman, who tested positive for Covid-19.
Chef Smudge
Steven Smith swaps bats for... bowls.
June 30
Nothing to see here, just Tim Southee out for a stroll in his WTC whites during his managed quarantine. Such a subtle flex.
Who loves Test cricket? Tim Southee does. Wearing his Test cap and WTC cable knit on his evening walk in MIQ. #WTC21 pic.twitter.com/sUfzOYQQjY
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) June 30, 2021
Rishabh Pant attends England-Germany game at the Euro
While the rest of the Indian team is catching up with friends and family, Rishabh Pant is catching up on a different sport altogether and picking up pointers, no doubt, from England's defeat of Germany at the Euro.
The England cricket team, meanwhile, were following the game from the dressing room after the ODI against Sri Lanka.
The team that sings together stays together
New Zealand women are pumping themselves up for the next World Cup already by putting the theme song on loop.
June 29
Post the WTC final and with a month to go to the England Test series, the Indian team are using the downtime to spend some time with their families. Ajinkya Rahane and Rohit Sharma had a day out with their babies.
While Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma went out on a coffee date.
And Ishant Sharma and Mayank Agarwal tried to squeeze in some sight-seeing.
Babar Azam shares the love
Pakistan have just landed in England for their limited overs tour that starts on July 8, and captain Babar Azam has a special message for the team's large fanbase in England.
June 28
Which Curran is the better footballer fielder?
Sam and Tom Curran have some nifty ball-kicking skills that they have been applying to their cricket - who did better?
The dancing duo
And who danced better - David or Candace Warner?