India vs New Zealand Series – Hardik Pandya Fitness Fiasco: – The axes are out after India’s poor show and a shocking early exit from the T20 World Cup. And Team India are already preparing for another series even though the last match against Namibia is just hours away. As the team for the New Zealand series is set to be announced today or tomorrow, the first to be axed will be Hardik Pandya after his questionable presence in the squad during T20 World Cup. Follow IND vs NZ T20s on InsideSport.in.
Furthermore, the BCCI is going to ask for a report on how an injured player was called up and not sent back to NCA after IPL 2021.
“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 told InsideSport.
India vs New Zealand Series: Hardik Pandya set to be dropped, Unhappy BCCI to ask team management, selection committee for report on his fitness fiasco
India vs New Zealand Series – Hardik Pandya Fitness Fiasco Explained?
- Everyone in the selection committee and India team Hardik Pandya was injured but both took the gamble it didn’t pay off.
- His absence of bowling action clearly disrupted the team’s balance as India against Pakistan and New Zealand.
- The BCCI isn’t happy with the entire episode, especially after India’s early exit.
- BCCI is seeking a report from team management and the selection committee on why Hardik and Varun Chakravarthy were selected despite their injuries.
- Hardik Pandya will be dropped from the NZ series and will be sent back to NCA to recover.
- Meanwhile, selectors have been asked to look for a backup in Mushtaq Ali Trophy.
New Zealand Tour of India: Hardik Pandya set to be dropped, Unhappy BCCI to ask team management & selection committee for report on his fitness
The Indian board hasn’t just taken an issue with Hardik Pandya but also with Varun Chakravarthy who also struggled with fitness and kept an in-form and fully fit Yuzvendra Chahal in the squad. Hardik in his defence could only score 35 off 13 against Afghanistan while he struggled to bowl, raising questions on his selection every time he took the field.
The official added that Hardik chose to stay with Mumbai Indians and follow his recovery protocols instead of going back to NCA. It didn’t make the BCCI happy. But now, after the T20 World Cup, he is set to go on a long break and will be sent to the NCA with focus on his return in the South Africa tour.
“There were instructions to rest World Cup players in IPL and it wasn’t followed properly. Hardik should have been sent to NCA and he should not have been in UAE. There will be questions after failure. But we have full confidence in the team,” the official told InsideSport.
New Zealand Tour of India: Hardik Pandya set to be dropped, Unhappy BCCI to ask team management & selection committee for report on his fitness
However the constant back and forth regarding Hardik Pandya has angered some BCCI officials and they want clarity on his fitness path while also ready backups in case such situations arise in future. InsideSport has also learnt that the selection committee has already been asked to look for alternatives and monitor all seam all-rounders’ progress in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. Kolkata Knight Riders’ Venkatesh Iyer has emerged as a prime contender for T20s and is likely to get a chance against New Zealand.
India vs New Zealand Series – Hardik Pandya Fitness Fiasco: Pandya set to be dropped, Unhappy BCCI to ask team management & selection committee for report on his fitness
“It’s not just about one or two seam all-rounders. We do not have 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.
As for the New Zealand series, if Venkatesh Iyer shines, Hardik Pandya may have to sit out longer than expected and could be asked to play in the Vijay Hazare Trophy and prove his fitness. However, a call on his domestic participation is yet to be taken.
New Zealand Tour of India: Hardik Pandya set to be dropped, Unhappy BCCI to ask team management & selection committee for report on his fitness
Probable India Squad for NZ series:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rohit Sharma (skipper), Ishan Kishan (WK), Venkatesh Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Mohammed Siraj, Deepak Chahar, Shardul Thakur, Chetan Sakariya, Shreyas Iyer, Rahul Chahar, T Natarajan, Mayank Agarwal, Manish Pandey
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