(Source X)
Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya were both considered for the captaincy of India’s T20I team following Rohit Sharma’s retirement. Gautam Gambhir and Ajit Agarkar, leading the selection panel, unanimously favored Suryakumar over Hardik due to his versatility and ability to contribute consistently across all formats.
Ahead of their departure to Sri Lanka, Gambhir and Agarkar highlighted Hardik’s fitness issues during a press conference, emphasizing this as a significant factor in their decision not to appoint him as T20I captain.
Former India head coach Ravi Shastri has echoed concerns about Hardik Pandya’s fitness, particularly in light of his non-captaincy role in the team. Speaking to Sanjana Ganesan for ICC, Shastri offered advice on how Pandya can improve his fitness and performance. He stressed the need for Pandya to bowl more overs to regain peak fitness and eventually make a strong return to the ODI squad.
“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,” said Ravi Shastri on the ICC Review.
Since 2018, Hardik Pandya has been grappling with injuries that have intermittently sidelined him from international cricket. It all began during the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan when he suffered a lower-back injury, necessitating his removal from the field.
Despite these setbacks, Pandya managed to stage a comeback and featured in the 2019 ODI World Cup. However, his journey was fraught with challenges, as he was subsequently ruled out of the 2023 ODI World Cup due to an ankle injury that sidelined him for over six months.
His path to recovery saw him return to the IPL, initially focusing solely on batting. As his fitness improved, he resumed bowling in the latter half of the tournament. Demonstrating his renewed form, Pandya’s fitness was duly acknowledged, earning him a spot in India’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad.
During the T20 World Cup, Pandya showcased his peak fitness, consistently delivering his quota of overs and making notable contributions with both bat and ball. He concluded the tournament with 11 wickets and 144 runs to his name, culminating in a pivotal role in India’s triumph, notably bowling the crucial final over in the tournament’s final.
Following this success, Pandya’s form and fitness were again evident in the Sri Lanka series, where he featured prominently in the T20I matches. In the second T20I, he bowled two overs, conceding 23 runs, and played a decisive innings of 22 runs off just nine balls, steering India to victory.
Throughout his journey, Pandya’s resilience in overcoming injuries underscores his determination to contribute significantly to India’s successes in international cricket.
Shastri emphasized that the onus is on Hardik Pandya to recognize the extent of effort required to regain optimal fitness and secure a return to the ODI squad.
“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,” Shastri concluded saying.
