Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has asked star all-rounder Hardik Pandya to improve his fitness, especially in the bowling department as well. However, Hardik has dealt with several injuries in his eight-year international career, including an ankle injury that kept him out of
the game from the middle of the 2023 ODI World Cup to IPL 2024 as well. Meanwhile, Chief Selector Ajit Agarkar also mentioned fitness as the key reason behind Pandya’s T20I captaincy snub despite his good performances in the recently concluded World Cup as well.

Speaking to the ICC, Shastri said, “I think (it’s) very important that he continues to play. I believe match fitness is very important. So whatever T20I cricket there is, he should play as much as he can. And if he feels strong and fit, then obviously he comes into the side for the one-day game as well. But then again, the bowling becomes important. If you have someone coming and bowling just three overs in where you have to bowl 10 in a one-day game, then the balance of the side takes a hit. If you can bowl consistently eight to 10 overs every game and then bat the way he does, I think he’ll play in one-day cricket as well.”

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However, Hardik Pandya is part of India’s T20 squad for the ongoing Sri Lanka tour but isn’t part of the ODI series as well. He played the first two T20I matches as India took an unassailable 2-0 series lead, with one match remaining. Ravi Shastri also stated that Hardik Pandya’s terrific performances in the 2024 T20 World Cup should motivate him to do well.

“So I think it’s up to him really, more than anything else. He understands his body better than anyone. And I’m sure, this will inspire him, especially with the way he did in the World Cup, the way he performed at the right times for India and the World Cup, so that should really get him going. He shouldn’t need any motivation to get his fitness right at the top there,” Ravi Shastri concluded.