Watch: Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami seen distant from each other at inauguration of new NCA

Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami were seen distant from each other at the inauguration of the new National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru. Both the players were invited to the occasion by the BCCI.

In a video that has gone viral on social media, Hardik Pandya, Mohammed Shami, and other officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) were present at a ground for the inauguration purpose.

While Hardik was seen standing and chatting with BCCI president Roger Binny, Mohammed Shami was standing at a fairly large distance from the allrounder. The players did not look at each other as rumors regarding the rift between the two cricketers emerged.

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Watch- Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami seen distant from each other

Hardik Pandya attended the inauguration ceremony of the New National Cricket Academy in Bangalore today. pic.twitter.com/JccniU7KIy

— Rohan Gangta (@rohan_gangta) September 28, 2024

Relations between Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami

Hardik Pandya and Mohammed Shami do not share a smooth relationship with each other. Both the players played with each other when they were a part of Gujarat Titans and Hardik was the team's captain.

However, Hardik Pandya left the team before the IPL 2024 season to join Mumbai Indians which led to his social outburst. A few months ago, Mohammed Shami had narrated an incident when Hardik Pandya reacted aggressively towards his fielding lapse.

Shami clearly expressed his displeasure towards Hardik's behavior in public and asked him not to give such reactions. Shami had also been critical of Pandya's performance in IPL 2024 season. The India allrounder had a disappointing season in IPL 2024 with both bat and ball, and his team also finished at the last spot.

Pandya will be in action in the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Shami is still working his way back from his surgery. He will play one or two Ranji Trophy games for Bengal before making his way back to international cricket.

New NCA inaugurated in Bengaluru

BCCI vice-president Rajeev Shukla was also present in the there alongside these two players. Shukla has been associated with the BCCI for a long time now. He has also served as India's team manager previously.

Meanwhile, the NCA was inaugurated by BCCI's president Roger Binny with Jay Shah, Rajeev Shukla, and other officials also present there. The new NCA in Bengaluru has been renamed as the BCCI Centre of Excellence.

The facility is a visionary project of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah, whose tenure will end by the end of November this year. Shah will take the bigger role of ICC chairman after his stint with the BCCI.

The Centre of Excellence will provide the next generation of cricketers with some advancements in sports science across the country. It is spanned over 40 acres and consists of three cricket grounds with 86 pitches in total.

The BCCI secretary Jay Shah wanted to complete this project before his tenure ended. After India's recent performance in the Paris Olympics, Jay Shah even stated that the facilities at the new NCA will be available for Olympic athletes such as Neeraj Chopra.