TOI Sports Desk
NEW DELHI: Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri set the future course for star all-arounder Hardik Pandya after he was passed over for the T20I captaincy. He advised him to play as much as possible and draw motivation from his team’s recent heroics at the ICC T20 World Cup, which ended the Men in Blue’s 11-year ICC trophy drought.
As Rohit Sharma‘s deputy during India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, Pandya was among the favorites to inherit the role after Rohit departed from the competition.But when the team for the current tour of Sri Lanka was revealed, Hardik was just mentioned as a player. Shubman Gill was chosen vice-captain and Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I skipper.
In the end, Hardik’s continued fitness problems were the main reason he lost the captaincy. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, tipped the scales against Hardik by stating at the pre-tour press conference that they favored a player whose availability was consistently dependable.
In the latest edition of The ICC Review, Shastri offered valuable advice to Hardik on how he can return to his peak performance.
“I think (it is) very important that he continues to play,” Shastri said while speaking to host Sanjana Ganesan, as quoted by the ICC, as per ANI.
“I believe match fitness is very important. So whatever T20I cricket there is, he should play as much as he can. And if he feels strong and fit, then obviously he comes into the side for the one-day game as well.”
“But then again, the bowling becomes important. If you have someone coming and bowling just three overs in where you have to bowl 10 in a one-day game, then the balance of the side takes a hit.”
“If you can bowl consistently eight to 10 overs every game and then bat the way he does, I think he’ll play in one-day cricket as well,” he concluded his point.
From 2018, Hardik has struggled with serious injuries for an extended period of time.
That year, in India’s intense Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai, Pandya was stretchered off the field after collapsing from a bowling strike, gripping his back in pain. After a stress fracture was identified, surgery and prolonged rehabilitation were required.
Pandya made the decision to heal naturally, and he was able to recuperate in time for the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Later on in the year, though, his back problems returned, necessitating surgery.
In a recent match between India and Bangladesh for the Cricket World Cup 2023, Hardik hurt his ankle trying to field the ball on follow-through.
He was out of the game for a long time due to this injury, and he didn’t play for his country again until the T20 World Cup.
After coming back, Hardik showed everyone just how good of an all-round player he is, taking significant wickets and making big runs throughout the competition.
India’s 11-year trophy drought came to an end in the final thanks to Hardik’s performance under duress, which included the important wickets of David Miller in the final over and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen.
In order to further highlight his abilities, the 30-year-old took two wickets and hit a crucial 22* during India’s series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday in Pallekele.
According to Shastri, Hardik would have enough desire to return to full fitness based on his recent performances.
“So I think it is up to him really, more than anything else,” Shastri added.
“He understands his body better than anyone. And I am sure, this will inspire him, especially with the way he did in the World Cup, the way he performed at the right times for India and the World Cup, so that should really get him going. He should not need any motivation to get his fitness right at the top,” he concluded.
As Rohit Sharma‘s deputy during India’s victorious ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign, Pandya was among the favorites to inherit the role after Rohit departed from the competition.But when the team for the current tour of Sri Lanka was revealed, Hardik was just mentioned as a player. Shubman Gill was chosen vice-captain and Suryakumar Yadav as India’s T20I skipper.
In the end, Hardik’s continued fitness problems were the main reason he lost the captaincy. Ajit Agarkar, the chief selector, tipped the scales against Hardik by stating at the pre-tour press conference that they favored a player whose availability was consistently dependable.
In the latest edition of The ICC Review, Shastri offered valuable advice to Hardik on how he can return to his peak performance.
“I think (it is) very important that he continues to play,” Shastri said while speaking to host Sanjana Ganesan, as quoted by the ICC, as per ANI.
“I believe match fitness is very important. So whatever T20I cricket there is, he should play as much as he can. And if he feels strong and fit, then obviously he comes into the side for the one-day game as well.”
“But then again, the bowling becomes important. If you have someone coming and bowling just three overs in where you have to bowl 10 in a one-day game, then the balance of the side takes a hit.”
“If you can bowl consistently eight to 10 overs every game and then bat the way he does, I think he’ll play in one-day cricket as well,” he concluded his point.
From 2018, Hardik has struggled with serious injuries for an extended period of time.
That year, in India’s intense Asia Cup match against Pakistan in Dubai, Pandya was stretchered off the field after collapsing from a bowling strike, gripping his back in pain. After a stress fracture was identified, surgery and prolonged rehabilitation were required.
Pandya made the decision to heal naturally, and he was able to recuperate in time for the 2019 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Later on in the year, though, his back problems returned, necessitating surgery.
In a recent match between India and Bangladesh for the Cricket World Cup 2023, Hardik hurt his ankle trying to field the ball on follow-through.
He was out of the game for a long time due to this injury, and he didn’t play for his country again until the T20 World Cup.
After coming back, Hardik showed everyone just how good of an all-round player he is, taking significant wickets and making big runs throughout the competition.
India’s 11-year trophy drought came to an end in the final thanks to Hardik’s performance under duress, which included the important wickets of David Miller in the final over and the dangerous Heinrich Klaasen.
In order to further highlight his abilities, the 30-year-old took two wickets and hit a crucial 22* during India’s series-clinching victory over Sri Lanka on Sunday in Pallekele.
According to Shastri, Hardik would have enough desire to return to full fitness based on his recent performances.
“So I think it is up to him really, more than anything else,” Shastri added.
“He understands his body better than anyone. And I am sure, this will inspire him, especially with the way he did in the World Cup, the way he performed at the right times for India and the World Cup, so that should really get him going. He should not need any motivation to get his fitness right at the top,” he concluded.