IPL 2022: BCCI snubs Hardik Pandya – Gujarat Titans captain Hardik Pandya will not be part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. While BCCI on the selection committee’s recommendation asked 25 players to attend the 10-day camp at NCA, Hardik Pandya wasn’t amongst them. The board is still waiting for clarity on Hardik’s fitness. Follow IPL 2022 Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
“No, Hardik will not be part of the camp. He was not asked to join the camp. For us, he is still on an indefinite break and hasn’t informed us of his fitness. Once we have clarity on his fitness, he will surely visit NCA,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
Last week, the BCCI informed 25 players including Ishan Kishan, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Venkatesh Iyer to report to the NCA by March 4 with the camp set to begin today (March 5). The 10-day camp will be conducted under the watchful eyes of NCA director VVS Laxman and his staff.
The camp was exclusively extended to the cricketers who are being monitored by selectors for future India assignments. They will leave the camp on March 15 and join their respective franchises. Deepak Chahar who is still recovering from a torn quadriceps will not be part of the camp.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
But why did BCCI summon the players for a fitness camp? The official said it was to monitor their fitness before the gruelling IPL season which will be followed by a five-match T20 series against South Africa.
“We don’t want any player to play in the IPL with injury and risk aggravating the injury. We have a South Africa series coming up right after IPL and it will be crucial to our planning for T20 World Cup,” a member of the selection committee told InsideSport.
IPL 2022: Why is Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s NCA Camp?
- Hardik Pandya hasn’t yet informed BCCI of his availability.
- For now, he is still on a break as he informed the BCCI right after the T20 World Cup.
- He is currently recovering on his own and has begun practice with Gujarat Titans coach Ashish Nehra ahead of IPL 2022.
- Only when he informs the BCCI that he is ready for a comeback and will visit the NCA to prove his fitness, the BCCI will consider him.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
Gujarat Titans’ Captain Hardik Pandya and players have started Practice and training ahead of the IPL 2022. pic.twitter.com/gRInbbaSDP
— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) February 25, 2022
Selection committee chairman Chetan Sharma too confirmed that Hardik Pandya was a no-show and didn’t keep the selectors updated about his fitness. He didn’t respond to selection calls for Baroda’s Ranji Trophy campaign either. Recently, he was demoted from Grade B to C (Rs 1 Cr) in BCCI’s annual central contracts.
“Hardik was an important part of the Indian team. We will consider him again when he is 100% fit, is bowling and match-fit,” Chetan Sharma said last month.
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
Players who will attend the NCA Camp: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shardul, Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Sanju Samson, Venkatesh Iyer, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel, Deepak Hooda, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
IPL 2022: Hardik Pandya not part of BCCI’s pre-IPL fitness camp at NCA, will continue rehab on his own in Ahmedabad
