Hardik Pandya: Selectors say 'play domestic cricket, prove form & fitness'

India Squad for NZ Series – Hardik Pandya: The BCCI, National selectors are very upset with Hardik Pandya’s episode at the T20 World Cup. Pandya as reported earlier by InsideSport was dropped from the India’s T20 Squad for New Zealand on Tuesday. Not only this, one of the BCCI selectors told InsideSport that Hardik won’t be picked without proving his form and fitness in the domestic cricket. Follow IND vs NZ LIVE Updates on InsideSport.in

“Of course, Hardik Pandya has been dropped. He will have to prove his form and fitness to be considered for the selections. Pandya purely as batsman doesn’t fit into our scheme of things. He will be asked to play domestic cricket, go through the rigour if he has to make a comeback to the squad”, said one of the selector on condition of anonymity.

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BCCI Selector on Hardik Pandya, ‘he will have to play domestic cricket to prove his form & fitness’

T20 World Cup 2022 – Task at Hand? The next T20 World Cup is just 1 year away & selectors are keen to identify and groom 4-5 players for the seam bowling all-rounder position.

Knowing the task at hand, selectors have already picked Venkatesh Iyer as Hardik replacement for the T20 Series vs New Zealand.

Why Hardik Pandya was dropped? InsideSport had last week reported that Hardik will be dropped from the squad for New Zealand as BCCI was unhappy with the entire FITNESS FIASCO surrounding the player.

While picked as an all-rounder, Hardik was neither in shape – nor in form to deliver on any front.

He just bowled four overs without any success and scored 69 runs in five matches. As he continued to struggle with his injury, his form & fitness created complete disbalance in the Indian playing XI.

BCCI has also asked the team management and the selection committee for a report on the matter.

“Definitely, the selection committee and the team management will be asked to submit a report. And for sure, Hardik Pandya’s name will be there,” a senior BCCI official had last week told InsideSport.

India Squad for New Zealand Series: Unfit Hardik Pandya dumped, Venkatesh Iyer takes his place, Rohit Sharma to lead India vs NZ

The selectors and the BCCI have paid huge price by trusting on Hardik’s abilities. Selectors now feel Hardik doesn’t merits a place in the team purely as batter. The focus going forward will now be on grooming batsman who can also bowl & minimum 4-5 alternatives will be identified for the role.

As a seam bowling-allrounder – KKR’s Venkatesh Iyer on Tuesday was picked in Indian team for the said role. Iyer scored 370 runs and bagged three wickets during 2nd phase of IPL and selectors are interested to groom him for the role.

“It’s not just about one or two seam all-rounders. We did not had any backup for Hardik and that is very worrying. The ones we tried in Hadik’s absence haven’t really lived up to exception. We cannot just wait for a player to recover. We need a seam bowling all-rounder and there is a clear lack of depth in that field. Rahul, Virat and Rohit and the selection committee are aware of it and the selectors will be monitoring the seam all-rounders’ progress in Mushtaq Ali,” the official said.

India Squad for NZ Series: As for other members of the team, as predicted IPL performers were rewarded. The likes of Orange Cap holder Ruturaj Gaikwad and Purple Cap holder Harshal Patel have been called up. Mohammed Siraj, Yuzvednra Chahal, Dee[ak Chahar and Shreyas Iyer have also made it to the squad.

India’s T20I squad: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (Vice-Captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Axar Patel, Avesh Khan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Harshal Patel, Mohd. Siraj

NEW ZEALAND TOUR OF INDIA I 2021-22
Day	Date	Match	Venue
Wednesday	17th Nov 2021	1st T20I	Jaipur
Friday	19th Nov 2021	2nd T20I	Ranchi
Sunday	21st Nov 2021	3rd T20I	Kolkata