Upbeat Hardik Pandya To Start Training At NCA From Tuesday

Indian optimistic all-rounder Hardik Pandya will begin his two-week rehabilitation programme under Rahul Dravid and his team at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bengaluru from Tuesday. He was advised by the Indian team management to complete his rehab at the NCA last week when he trained with Team India at the iconic Wankhede in nets. Unfortunately, Pandya sustained a lower back injury during the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. Since then, he has been away from the field.

Team India has failed to fill the void that Pandya has left. India is currently missing an all-rounder to strengthen the unit. Pandya has been crucial with the bat and bowl for India. In ODIs, Pandya has scored 957 runs in 54 matches with a strike rate of 115.58 and has snared 54 wickets.

Also Read: So Surprised Not To See Glenn Maxwell In Australia’s Squad – Virat Kohli

Hardik Pandya to Train at NCA:

“The team management spoke to him when he trained with Virat Kohli and boys on the eve of the opening ODI against Australia at the Wankhede Stadium and he has been asked to start the training from Tuesday. It should be ideally a two-week programme after which he will be ready for international cricket,” the source said.

The team management is trying to fit in Pandya for the New Zealand tour. However, it is very unlikely that he will be a part of the squad.

Both Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah created controversy by taking the help of Delhi Capitals’ (DC) trainer Rajnikanth Sivagnanam to undergo rehab after they suffered injuries. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly made it clear that NCA is the only place the national players should undergo rehab in.

“I met Dravid yesterday, and we have put a system in place. The bowlers will have to go to the NCA. If anybody (else) has to treat them, they will have to come to NCA,” Ganguly had said.

Meanwhile, India is scheduled to play a bilateral series against New Zealand which will begin on January 24 in Auckland.

Also Read: 4 Big Takeaways For India From ODI Series Against Australia