India’s star all-rounder and Gujarat Titans’ captain Hardik Pandya has reported to the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru for a final fitness test ahead of the upcoming IPL 2022 season, which is all set to kickstart from March 26.
Hardik Pandya’s bowling fitness has been one of the most awaited updates about him and it would be interesting to see whether he will bowl full tilt in the IPL 2022.
It was reported that the BCCI will now allow Hardik Pandya to play in the upcoming 2022 edition of the Indian Premier League until or unless he clears the fitness Test at NCA. The next few days will be very crucial for the star player.
“Hardik will be at the NCA for the next two days and appear in the various fitness tests. He is a centrally contracted cricketer and has not played any cricket since the T20 World Cup in UAE,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
He added: “He would need to pass the fitness test as it has been mandatory for some time now. Last year, even Shreyas Iyer appeared for a fitness test post shoulder surgery before playing IPL,”
The Indian team management and the NCA keep a close eye on its centrally-contracted players. As per the reports, the 28-year-old has not had any problems while batting or fielding and he was also seen bowling a few times during the practice session.
Recently, during a media conference, the chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma had said that his committee will monitor Hardik and he will be considered for selection for the national team only when he is bowling regularly like in old times.
Therefore, it will be interesting to see whether the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League will bring the evolution of Hardik Pandya, the pure batter or he would return to his beast form as an all-rounder.
