Hardik Pandya brought back his signature hands-out shrug celebration, but this time he was joined by two very different personalities. The India all-rounder recreated the iconic pose alongside Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, and Indian YouTube sensation CarryMinati during the global creator’s recent visit to India.
MrBeast, the world’s most subscribed YouTube creator and the first individual to surpass 500 million subscribers earlier this year, shared a collection of photos from his trip on social media, including the one with Pandya and CarryMinati. The post, captioned “Had an amazing trip to India,” featured the trio striking the now-famous shrug pose that Pandya popularised.
Pandya responded to the post, inviting MrBeast back to the country. “My brother. Come visit us again soon,” he wrote.
The shrug celebration gained widespread attention after India’s victory in the 2024 T20 World Cup final against South Africa in Barbados. Pandya bowled the decisive final over and celebrated the title with the gesture, which resembles the shrug made famous by social media star Khaby Lame. The celebration quickly became a symbol of India’s triumph and Pandya’s cool confidence in the moment.
Pandya has played 11 Tests, 94 One-Day Internationals, and 138 Twenty20 Internationals so far. In T20Is alone, he has scored 2,288 runs at an average of 28.24, with a strike rate of 145.91. He has also taken 114 wickets in the format, underscoring his value as an all-rounder.
CarryMinati, whose real name is Ajey Nagar, is one of India’s biggest YouTubers and is known for his comedic sketches and gaming content. His presence alongside MrBeast and Pandya highlights the growing crossover between cricket, digital entertainment, and global pop culture.
MrBeast’s visit included meetings with several celebrities, and the photograph with Pandya and CarryMinati stands out as a moment that bridged sports and online media. The interaction between the three personalities reflects the increasing influence YouTubers hold in India and beyond, intersecting with figures from other fields like cricket.
There has been no official announcement about any joint projects or collaborations following the visit. However, Pandya’s public invitation to MrBeast suggests the possibility of future interactions between the cricket star and the global YouTube creator.
The image of the shrug, once tied solely to a cricket victory, now carries a new layer of cultural significance, connecting fans of sport and digital content across continents.
According to Yahoo Sports.