India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour, to take time off

India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour – Even though the South Africa tour is under serious doubt due to the new outbreak of Covid-19, one name for sure will not be there is Hardik Pandya. The flamboyant all-rounder has requested BCCI for some time off to concentrate on fitness and return as an all-rounder, not just batsman. Follow India vs South Africa live Updates on InsideSport.IN.

“Yes, he has requested for some time off and not to consider him for selection. He will undergo recovery and follow BCCI and NCA’s rehabilitation protocol for the back injury. I can’t say when he will return. We are hopeful that he will be available for the West Indies series. But at this time, it’s difficult to say,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.

The Indian team for the tour to South Africa will be selected before the end of this week.

India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour, BCCI official confirms, ‘he requested for time off to concentrate on fitness’

Also Read: India tour of South Africa: Now Hardik Pandya doubtful for South Africa tour, asked to report to NCA

BCCI had directed Hardik Pandya to report to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru and pass the fitness test to be eligible for South Africa tour selection. However, Hardik Pandya chose to ignore the diktat as he wanted time to continue with the progress he has had with the back injury.

Instead, he will now take some time off and recover at home before joining the NCA’s rehabilitation program in due course. The official added that there will be no point in considering him only as a batsman and that return of all-rounder Hardik Pandya will be crucial going into the T20 World Cup 2022.

“He is a very important player for us and we will need the all-rounder back before the T20 World Cup. Hence, I think he has taken a very good decision to take some time off. It will be important for him to return to bowling when he returns. We will help him with all the support possible,” the official told InsideSport.

India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour, BCCI official confirms, ‘he requested for time off to concentrate on fitness’

This week, Hardik was supposed to join NCA to continue the rehabilitation program. But now, it will be delayed.

“His recovery from injury will mainly depend on rest. He should be visiting the NCA soon and we will take a call on his inclusion in South Africa tour depending on his fitness,” a BCCI official told InsideSport last week.

India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour, BCCI official confirms, ‘he requested for time off to concentrate on fitness’

India Tour of South Africa: What is going on with Hardik Pandya?

Hardik Pandya is facing a recurrence of the back problem that sidelined him for over six months.
Bowling aggregates the problem and that is the reason he has been advised against it.
In T20 World Cup, he did bowl but he is still not at his 100% and has been slow.
He was dropped for the New Zealand series and was asked to rest.
With the squad for the South Africa tour set to be announced after the 1st Test against NZ, the BCCI wants him to report to NCA and prove his fitness.
If he is fit, he will be selected for the ODI and T20I series starting from January 11.
In the meantime, he has been advised not to play in Vijay Hazare Trophy but it is a call that has been left to him.
Hardik has decided to take some time off to concentrate on fitness and return as an all-rounder.

Hardik Pandya joins England’s Ben Stokes and Australia’s Tim Paine on the indefinite break list. While Ben Stokes and Tim Paine took indefinite breaks for other reasons, Hardik’s break is purely to regain fitness.

India tour of South Africa: Hardik Pandya out of SA tour, BCCI official confirms, ‘he requested for time off to concentrate on fitness’

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