India cricket team all-rounder Hardik Pandya might have just sparked a concern by opting out of playing the league matches of Vijay Hazare Trophy. The Baroda star featured in nearly most of Baroda’s games in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. However, he decided to join the side in the 50-over tournament only if they make it to the knockout stages, as per reports. If this were to be true, then India should be worried ahead of Champions Trophy 2025. Is Hardik injured once again? Will he be 100% for CT 2025, which is scheduled to begin in February 2025?
Is Hardik Pandya fit to play CT 2025?
Initially, Hardik Pandya had communicated to the Baroda team management that he would link up with the side in the later on stages of Vijay Hazare Trophy. He had confirmed that he would miss the initial few matches and had informed the management about his availability schedule. However, reports on Saturday claimed that Hardik will not join the side unless they qualify for the knockouts, casting aspersions on his fitness.
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Hardik Pandya is no stranger to dealing with injuries and has spent a long time off the field while recovering from blows to his body. While he did make his presence felt in the ODI World Cup 2023 followed by the T20 World Cup in 2024, it has been quite some time since he has featured in an international game. His last international match came in November against South Africa in a T20I and his last ODI dates back to a year before in the World Cup in 2023.
There are no doubts that Hardik is one of the first-choice all-rounders for India, at least in both white-ball formats. His absence can hardly be compensated with, even though India have options like Nitish Reddy or Shivam Dube. Should Hardik be nursing an injury once again, it could mean nothing but bad news for India ahead of the Champions Trophy. The Men in Blue would desperately need his services, with the bat as an option to provide depth to the batting order and with the ball to ably support Jasprit Bumrah and co. as the 4th pacer. Only time and Baroda’s qualification to the knockout stages of Vijay Hazare Trophy tournament will tell what Hardik’s fate is in store for the Indian team.
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