New Delhi: Hardik Pandya was dealt with a massive blow after Suryakumar Yadav pipped in the race to be appointed as India’s captain in T20Is for their upcoming tour of Sri Lanka. Hardik was India’s vice-captain in the T20 World Cup 2024 and played an instrumental role in helping the team win the elusive trophy to end their 11-year-long ICC trophy drought. Hardik was expected to replace Rohit Sharma as India’s captain in T20Is after his retirement, however, he was pipped by Suryakumar in the last minute.
Hardik is no longer the vice-captain of the Indian team as well with Shubman Gill replacing him as the deputy to Suryakumar and Rohit in T20Is and ODIs respectively. Hardik is reportedly set to receive another major setback as he might be asked to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy by the selectors and the Indian team management to prove his fitness for a spot in India’s ODI squad ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Hardik will be in action for India in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka which starts later this month, however, he has pulled out of the ODI series citing personal reasons. Hardik’s unavailability in the ODI series has reportedly put his selection in the Champions Trophy in 2025 in doubt due to concerns regarding his bowling fitness.
As per a report in the Times of India, Hardik’s bowling fitness will be monitored by the selectors and the team management in the Vijay Hazare Trophy, India’s List A 50-over tournament. The domestic tournament is slated to begin on December 20 and conclude on January 18. Hardik might be asked to play for Baroda in the tournament to stake a claim for selection in the Champions Trophy squad.
“While he has done exceptionally well bowling just four overs in T20 cricket after returning from his injury, Hardik hasn’t been tested in longer formats. His endurance needs to be monitored. The selectors will keep a watch on how he goes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the end of the year,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by Times of India.
Hardik Pandya’s bowling fitness will be monitored in Vijay Hazare Trophy
As per the report, Hardik might not be an automatic pick in the ODI squad if he is not able to prove his fitness with the ball in the Vijay Hazare Trophy. Hardik last featured in an ODI for India in the ODI World Cup last year and has since played only T20Is due to his recurring injury issues. Reports have claimed that his poor injury record was one of the major reasons behind the selectors preferring Suryakumar as captain over him in T20Is.
“Hardik’s batting has not been as explosive as it used to be. He played well in the T20 World Cup but his true value comes through if he is bowling well and finishing his quota of overs. His last ODI was during the World Cup last year when he got injured. It means he would not have played ODIs for over a year. His workload needs to be monitored,” added the source.
While Hardik’s bowling fitness might be a concern as far as ODIs are concerned, Gambhir and the selectors will have to be careful in dealing with the issue. Hardik is India’s premier all-rounder in white-ball cricket and no one comes close to matching his quality. India don’t have a like-to-like replacement for the star all-rounder ready yet and will have to handle the situation well to ensure his morale is not affected ahead of an important tournament like the Champions Trophy.
After being removed as vice-captain in ODIs and T20Is, Hardik Pandya’s spot in the ODI team is reportedly under threat. The star all-rounder might have to prove his fitness with the ball before the Champions Trophy 2025. Cricket Sports News: Latest Cricket News, Cricket Live Score, Sports Breaking News from Sports Today
