Hardik Pandya Advised To Strengthen His Core After Back Injury
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A couple of months before the ICC World Cup, India allrounder Hardik Pandya suffered a big setback.  He was ruled out of the upcoming T20I and ODI series against Australia due to a lower back injury. The series is India’s last assignment before the World Cup and would have given Pandya some much-needed game time.  He had only recently recovered from a stress fracture of the back.

During the Asia Cup in September last year, he had to be stretchered off the field while playing against Pakistan. Consequently, he missed the home series against Windies and was not named in the squad for the Australia tour. Pandya regained full fitness in December and joined the Indian team in Melbourne. However, he did not play any part in the subsequent matches of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

He was then in line to make his much-awaited return in the ODI series against Australia. However, the BCCI sent him and KL Rahul home for their controversial remarks on a television show.  Eventually, the CoA lifted the suspensions pending the appointment of an ombudsman. Pandya rejoined the Indian team during the New Zealand series, playing in six matches, picking up seven wickets and scoring 86 runs.

Hardik Pandya Advised To Strengthen His Core After Back Injury
Hardik Pandya (Credits: Getty)

With the Pandya suffering another back injury, he has been asked to strengthen his core before he can make a comeback to the team.

“He needs to work on his core muscles. We conduct fitness tests between series and the doctors felt that it is important for him to strengthen his core muscles and a routine will be designed for the all-rounder at the NCA which he will follow for the next three weeks. The core is one of the integral parts of a sportsman’s body and that needs to be in its best shape,” a source in the know of things told Hindustan Times.

Hardik Pandya Advised To Strengthen His Core After Back Injury
Hardik Pandya (Credits: Getty)

The source further said that it is still too early to comment on whether Pandya would be available for the Indian Premier League.

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“Too early to speak about that at present. He has a stiff back and it is not like he is carrying any injury. After the three weeks of training at the NCA, he will once again undergo a fitness test and the decision on his participation in the T20 league will be taken then,” the source added.

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