Hardik Pandya played a crucial role in India’s victory at the T20 World Cup 2024 final, delivering a match-winning final over against South Africa and helping India lift the trophy in Barbados on June 29. Despite his significant contribution, Pandya faced challenges when he requested a break from the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) reportedly denied his request, keeping him in the T20I setup. To make matters worse, Pandya was stripped of his T20I captaincy, adding to his difficulties. Under the new head coach Gautam Gambhir, the focus on player fitness and availability has become paramount.
Hardik Pandya has not played an ODI since the World Cup 2023, and his ongoing fitness issues have raised concerns about his place in the ODI team. A BCCI official noted that Pandya’s struggle to bowl a full 10-over spell is a significant concern. “Hardik was also reminded by Gambhir on the call that he was looking forward to seeing him bowl his full quota in ODIs,” the official told HT.
Following the disappointment of the World Cup in 2023, BCCI Secretary Jay Shah took a strong stance, emphasizing that players must participate in domestic seasons to secure their spots on the national team. This policy led to Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan not receiving annual contracts due to their lack of adherence to these expectations.
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Gautam Gambhir’s stance on India’s T20I captaincy is creating buzz. He prefers a captain with fewer fitness concerns, indirectly supporting Suryakumar Yadav over Hardik Pandya. The split decision within BCCI and the selection committee adds to the uncertainty. Who will succeed… pic.twitter.com/LmTNQQk1PA
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In line with this approach, Gautam Gambhir has reportedly asked Pandya to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda to demonstrate his bowling fitness. Despite being an integral part of the Mumbai Indians’ squad in the IPL 2024 and playing a key role in the T20 World Cup 2024, Pandya’s ODI prospects are under scrutiny.
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The demands of ODI cricket, where bowlers are required to bowl longer spells compared to T20Is, present a different challenge. The upcoming tour of Sri Lanka will be critical for Pandya to showcase his fitness and skills. Success in this series could be pivotal, as he aims to prove himself for future series against England and secure his place for the domestic season that follows.
