Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya not to report to NCA – Out of favour India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has decided to skip Vijay Hazare Trophy starting across the country from Wednesday as he is undergoing an extensive rehabilitation programme in order to regain his bowling fitness. He was asked by the BCCI to report to NCA but he has chosen to remain in Mumbai. He will not be part of the South Africa tour as he has asked the board to not consider him. Follow Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021-22 and India Tour of South Africa on InsideSport.IN.
“The Baroda Cricket Association (BCA) had sent an e-mail to Hardik enquiring about his availability for the Vijay Hazare Trophy. He has rarely played for Baroda in the last three years. However he gave a one-line reply that he is currently doing rehab in Mumbai,” a senior official privy to developments in BCA told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya skips Hazare to undergo rehab in Mumbai, ignores selectors’ calls to report to NCA
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Asked what is the injury he is carrying at the moment, the official said: “Even the BCA doesn’t know. It is understood that he is trying to do some strength and conditioning module for his back which is no longer in best of shape post-surgery in 2019,” the source revealed.
The official informed that Hardik’s elder brother Krunal had joined Baroda’s pre-Hazare camp for a week after he was instructed by the state board that attending the camp is mandatory for being part of the final squad.
“BCA told Krunal that he can’t just land up during tournaments and he has to be a part of the camp. Then he came and trained with the team for a week,” the source said.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya skips Hazare to undergo rehab in Mumbai, ignores selectors’ calls to report to NCA
While he is doing his rehab in Mumbai, he would ultimately need to go to the NCA and prove his fitness in front of the coaches over there before he is considered for national selection.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya skips Hazare to undergo rehab in Mumbai, ignores selectors’ calls to report to NCA
There was a time when Indian players used to procure fitness certificates from NCA but that culture was changed after the erstwhile Director of Cricket Rahul Dravid took charge.
Dravid made it mandatory for every player to come to NCA, appear for all the necessary fitness tests in front of the coaches, trainers and physios and then only are given the go-ahead to play matches.
A case in point was Shreyas Iyer, who had to be in NCA for a week to get the green light to play in the IPL.
India will be playing three ODIs in South Africa from January 19 and even if the team is selected at a later date (allowing the white ball specialists to enter the bubble later), Pandya will not be picked if he doesn’t bowl.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya skips Hazare to undergo rehab in Mumbai, ignores selectors’ calls to report to NCA
It is understood that BCCI usually for overseas tours procures visa for more than 35 to 40 players for the sake of convenience.
Venkatesh Iyer, who is being seen as Pandya’s potential future replacement, could be picked for the ODIs in order to add variety and also have that sixth bowler option.
Vijay Hazare Trophy: Hardik Pandya skips Hazare to undergo rehab in Mumbai, ignores selectors’ calls to report to NCA
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