IPL 2022 Mega Auction – Hardik Pandya: The injured Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya will miss India’s first home series in New-Year against the West-Indies. BCCI has asked Hardik to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA). The former Mumbai Indians all-rounder will work on his bowling fitness under the watchful eyes of experts at NCA in the New-Year instead of being considered for the selections. With IPL 2022 auctions scheduled in January & still question mark on Pandya’s fitness – its unlikely that Hardik will fetch Mega-Price at Mega-Auctions – Follow all IPL 2022 LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
India host the West Indies for three ODIs and as many T20Is from February 6 to 20. Post the series against the West-Indies, India are also scheduled to host Sri Lanka for two Tests and three T20Is from February 25 to March 18. The 28-year-old is unlikely to be considered for the selections for either of the series.
IPL 2022: With question mark on fitness, will Hardik Pandya get MEGA-PRICE at MEGA-Auction? All-rounder set to miss the West Indies series
IPL 2022 Mega Auction – Will Hardik Pandya get mega-bucks? Due to questionable fitness, Hardik has already lost his place in the Indian squad and was also released by his long standing backers Mumbai Indians. Hardik is currently undergoing rehab in Mumbai but his real fitness regime will only start in January when he heads to NCA. Hardik according to reports, could be there either January end or early February to work mainly on his bowling fitness.
The BCCI & Selectors have made it clear to Hardik that only way he can make a comeback to the team is by working on his fitness first at NCA and then proving himself in the domestic cricket.
With IPL Auction scheduled for January, Hardik’s questionable fitness will surely impact his price & value at the auction.
“See, no-doubt he is a proven customer & a very big draw. He can win matches single-handedly but now everyone knows he comes with a warning i.e Handle with Care. We doubt any franchise will take a huge punt on him. He still will have a huge demand but his salary will surely get compromised because of his fitness issues”, said one of the player acquisition expert with the franchise.
In past few weeks, Hardik’s name has been linked with new IPL franchises from Lucknow & Ahmedabad. But according to reliable sources, both the teams are unlikely to offer Hardik big contract.
Hardik Pandya in IPL: Salary, Batting & Bowling Performance
Hardik was first picked by Mumbai Indians in 2015 and since then he was integral part of the Mumabi Paltan for 7 seasons. He had played 92 games in this period for MI & scored 1476 runs @ Strike rate of 153.91. The Baroda lad also took 42 wickets @ 31.2 Average and bowled with a economy of 9.06 per over justifying his price tag to the hilt.
Starting from just 10 Lakh annual salary package, Hardik was earning 11 Cr per year from the Mumbai team for his big-hitting and all-round skills since IPL 2018.
But with questionable fitness & also questions on his bowling – it is unlikely Hardik will fetch big-price at the mega-auctions.
When will Hardik head to NCA?
The all-rounder had suffered a back injury that had affected his bowling and is out of competitive cricket for almost a month-and-a-half now. According to sources, Hardik should start training in NCA sometime in January. The stint at NCA will only determine his return to the Domestic Cricket and to the national-fold.
Meanwhile for now, Hardik is sweating out in Mumbai and in his own words “Renewed, rejuvenated, reloading,” himself for the rigors of domestic, international and IPL cricket.
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