IPL 2022 – Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST – Hardik Pandya has finally passed his fitness test with flying colours at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) on Wednesday. After ignoring the selectors calls and NCA’s advice for months, Pandya achieved over 17 score in the benchmark Yo-yo test. The NCA director VVS Laxman was also happy with his bowling at the nets on regular basis. Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“Let’s make it clear. Fitness test clearance is only for those who are coming back from injury. In the case of Hardik, it was about getting a general fitness assessment going into the gruelling IPL season,” a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
Despite mandating a minimum of 10 overs to bowl, the NCA decided not to test his bowling skills after learning that he is regularly bowling at the nets at 135kmph. However, Hardik insisted on bowling at the NCA and the physios were happy to see him perform.
“He didn’t need to bowl at NCA but he has bowled for considerable time and in the range of 135 kmph. On the second day, he crossed the Yo-Yo test with flying colours with a 17-plus score which is much above the cut-off level,” the source said.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST: The national team and the NCA medical staff always keeps a close tab on its centrally-contracted players. For Team India players, the minimum Yo-yo score is 16.5. However, as Hardik Pandya has always averaged a score of 18 and above in the Yo-yo test, it should not be a problem. On Wednesday, it was no problem for him to clear the mark.
Now that he has cleared the fitness test, Hardik Pandya is once again back on Team India’s radar. If everything goes well in IPL, he is likely to make a comeback in the five-match T20 series against South Africa in June.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
Gujarat Titans Camp – Hardik Pandya Bowled in Camp: Gujarat Titans had a 5-day training camp in Baroda. The report claims that during the Titans camp Hardik had bowled during a couple of sessions.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
It is understood that when it comes to batting and fielding fitness, he is fully ready.
Playing purely as a batter currently is not at all an issue for the flamboyant Baroda all-rounder.
However, it is understood that he is only bowling at 75 percent of his full potential. At the NCA, he bowled at 135kph while he can clock 140 on a regular basis.
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IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
“If Gujarat is looking at a pure batter, a skipper and a finisher, Hardik, in all likelihood, is ready. It will be interesting to see what is NCA’s Sports Science and Medicine team’s take on his bowling. Is he ready to bowl at 135 clicks upwards?,” the source privy to developments said.
Meanwhile, Hardik, during Gujarat Titans’ jersey launch, kept cards close to his chest stating that his bowling would be a “surprise”.
The most interesting aspect to watch during the tests would be whether the 28-year-old gets clearance to bowl full tilt in the cash-rich league.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
His team Gujarat Titans is scheduled to start their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 28.
Recently during a media conference, chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma had said that his committee will monitor Hardik and he will be considered only when he is bowling regularly like old times.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya passes FITNESS TEST with FLYING colours, BCCI & NCA happy with Gujarat Titans captain’s bowling
Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
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