Pandya's bowling fitness to be monitored ahead of Champions Trophy: Report

Hardik Pandya had a stellar 2024 T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies. The ace all-rounder not only scored 144 runs @ 48 and a strike rate of 151.57 but also picked up 11 wickets at an economy of 7.64. However, there are persisting doubts about his bowling fitness in the One-Day Internationals. 

India are scheduled to play just six ODIs before next year’s Champions Trophy in Pakistan. The Men in Blue will play three ODIs in Sri Lanka but Pandya has made himself unavailable for the series due to “personal reasons”. And the remaining three ODIs India will play before the Champions Trophy will be against England in January 2025.

According to a report in the Times of India, the selectors will monitor his bowling fitness over the next few months. The report suggests that Pandya is not an automatic pick in ODIs if he won’t be able to bowl longer spells. It was because of his fitness concerns the Ajit Agarkar-led selection committee and new head coach Gautam Gambhir handed over the T20I captaincy to Suryakumar Yadav. Pandya was also not given the vice-captaincy. 

"While he has done exceptionally well bowling just four overs in T20 cricket after returning from his injury, Hardik hasn't been tested in longer formats. His endurance needs to be monitored. The selectors will keep a watch on how he goes in the Vijay Hazare Trophy at the end of the year," a BCCI source told TOI.

"Hardik's batting has not been as explosive as it used to be. He played well in the T20 World Cup but his true value comes through if he is bowling well and finishing his quota of overs. His last ODI was during the World Cup last year when he got injured. It means he would not have played ODIs for over a year. His workload needs to be monitored.”

Pandya hasn’t played an ODI since injuring his ankle during the 2023 World Cup in India. Therefore, the all-rounder will spend this entire year without playing the 50-over format unless he makes himself available for the Vijay Hazare Trophy in late December.

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