According to a report by Press Trust of India(PTI), BCCI will not allow Hardik Pandya to play in IPL 2022 until or unless he clears his fitness test. The Gujarat Titans skipper has already reported at the NCA (National Cricket Academy) in Bengaluru. Pandya will undergo fitness tests for the next couple of days. The NCA medical staff always keep a close tab on its centrally-contracted players. As only then he’ll be given the green signal to lead the team in the Indian Premier League 2022.
“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. 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.
a BCCI source told PTI on conditions of anonymity
The report by PTI claims that Hardik will have to undergo these tests under the watchful eyes of NCA & Team India’s Physios. Recently during a media conference, chairman of selectors Chetan Sharma had said that his committee will monitor Hardik and he will be considered only when he is bowling regularly like old times. This statement also ignited the spark of emergence of Hardik as a specialist batter in the IPL. However, that only seems to be possible if Pandya clears the tests at the NCA. Also, Hardik was demoted from BCCI’s central contract from Group A to Group C this month due to his inconsistent form and persistent injuries.
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The most interesting aspect to watch during the tests would be whether the Indian Alrounder gets clearance to bowl full tilt in World’s biggest cricket league or he’ll dawning some new role that we’ll get to see soon.
Here, Pandya seems to totally love the leadership role given to him by the franchise.
His team Gujarat Titans is scheduled to start their campaign against Lucknow Super Giants on March 28. Lets see what turns out to be their Capatin’s fate.
