{
  "id": 4218971,
  "title": "Fact Check: Did Hardik Pandya And Krunal Pandya Celebrate Raksha Bandhan Together? Here's The Truth Behind Viral Photo",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/29/fact-check-did-hardik-pandya-and-krunal-pandya-celebrate-raksha",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-29T14:39:21.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/sports/fact-check-did-hardik-pandya-and-krunal-pandya-celebrate-raksha-bandhan-together-heres-the-truth-behind-viral-photo"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A viral photo has been circulating on social media, showing brothers Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya along with their sons, seemingly celebrating Raksha Bandhan together. The image has sparked speculation about a rift between the two Indian cricketers, who have been the subject of rumors since India's victory at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup in 2026. The picture, which was initially shared last year, has been altered to reflect changes in Hardik Pandya's hairstyle due to his recent bald head appearance after visiting Tirumala Tirupati with his girlfriend Mahieka Sharma. Despite the image's heartwarming nature, it is not from this year's Raksha Bandhan celebration.",
  "summary": "A picture of Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya is going viral on social media with the brothers supposedly celebrating Raksha Bandhan together. The two Indian cricketers can be seen seated along with their sons flexing the rakhis they have tied to each other. The picture began doing the rounds as rumours of a rift continue to remain rife between the two brothers. Hardik Pandya and Krunal Pandya…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}