Hardik Pandya's ODI future in dark clouds after Gautam Gambhir calls and warns him
Published - 19 Jul 2024, 04:35 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 01:15 AM
Not very long ago, Hardik Pandya was the toast of the nation after his starring role in India's monumental victory in the T20 World Cup last month. The allrounder impressed with both bat and ball as India ended their 11-year wait for an ICC trophy.
Such was his performance in the T20 World Cup that he was widely expected to become the new T20I captain as well. Hardik Pandya was also the vice-captain during the T20 World Cup and his fine performance only strengthened his case to succeed Rohit Sharma as the new T20I captain.
However, the selectors and the team management have decided against making him the new captain. The BCCI, on Thursday (July 18), announced the squads for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and unveiled Suryakumar Yadav as the new T20I captain.
In a big call, the selectors also decided to hand over the vice-captaincy to Shubman Gill even though Hardik Pandya was named in the T20I squad. The call has made it pretty clear that although the star allrounder is an important member of the team, the team management does not see him as a key member of the leadership group.
Hardik Pandya's ODI future uncertain:
And things could go from bad to worse for Hardik Pandya. According to a report in the Hindustan Times, Pandya's place in India's ODI squad is not guaranteed anymore. The allrounder's decision to take a voluntary break from the Sri Lanka ODIs has not gone down well with the selection panel as well as the team management.
The report stated that head coach Gautam Gambhir talked to Pandya and told him that he has to play the Vijay Hazare Trophy for Baroda to prove his bowling fitness.
"Hardik was also reminded by Gambhir on the call, that he was looking forward to seeing him bowl his full quota in ODIs," a BCCI official told the news outlet.
Even though Pandya has performed well in T20s, his fitness is still a big concern. He has not played an ODI since the ODI World Cup last year and the selectors want him to prove his fitness in the domestic circuit to become eligible for selection. The selectors and coach Gambhir are still not convinced that his body is ready to withstand the rigors of ODIs and would take a call on his future in ODIs only after he proves his fitness.
After the Sri Lanka tour, India won't be playing any ODIs this year. Their next ODI series is against England in January before they take part in the Champions Trophy, scheduled to be played in February-March. That leaves Pandya with no option but to prove himself in the domestic circuit to earn a recall for the ODI team.
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Mukesh Singh is an Author and Editor at Cricketaddictor. Mukesh has been associated with the organiz... Read more
