With the ongoing fitness issues, Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya has decided to skip the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda this season.
Hardik who has not been part of his domestic side for the last three years was asked by the Association about his availability in the Vijay Hazare tournament starting from Wednesday, to which the all-rounder replied as he is currently doing rehab in Mumbai.
The 28-year old been going through a tough phase for the past few months and hasn’t been at his best of both forms and fitness as he has rarely bowled after his surgery in 2019.
He sustained a back issue way back in 2018 which he carried till the 2019 World Cup in England. He then underwent surgery and intense rehabilitation which kept him out of action for a long.
After making a comeback in the Indian side, Pandya was not in the condition to bowl which was quoted as part of ‘workload management for him, though was seen bowling on a few occasions.
The Pandya fitness debate again took a flow during the ICC WORLD T20 in UAE which went horribly against the expectations for men in blue resulted in heavy criticism of Hardik’s inclusion in the team considering him not bowling but just ruining the team’s combination by playing as a pure batsman, however, couldn’t manage to do much with the bat too.
Pandya at the moment is believed to be doing some strength work to get himself in the best shape to bowl again.
While doing rehab in Mumbai, Hardik would nonetheless need to go to NCA to prove his fitness to the coaches there before being considered for the National side selection, a culture which is set by the former NCA head and new Head Coach of Indian cricket team Rahul Dravid.
Asked about the injury he is carrying. “Even the BCA doesn’t know about it”, said a senior official to PTI.
The official also told that Hardik ultimately will have to play domestic tournaments before being considered for the selection in the national side.
“The National selection has already told all the players that all those who are not in the frame of Indian squad should go and play domestic cricket”; the official added.
Hardik Pandya is not available for team selection for India’s tour to South Africa, even though he announced his unavailability. The new option in the name of Venkatesh Iyer is expected to be under the scheme of things for ODIs against the Proteas who could get picked as another bowling option as the KKR all-rounder has already started to be seen as a future replacement for Pandya.
