Chief Selector Chetan Sharma Provides Update On Hardik Pandya's Return To The Indian Cricket Team

Chief Selector of the Indian Cricket Team,  Chetan Sharma has provided an update on Hardik Pandya’s health and his future with the Indian cricket team. Hardik was not a part of the Test and T20I squads that were announced for the upcoming series against Sri Lanka. 

Hardik Pandya was earlier asked by the BCCI and the selection panel to work on his fitness. He was asked to report to the NCA where he worked hard on his fitness. However, as per Chetan Sharma, Pandya has not fulfilled the fitness standards for his recall into the Indian team. 

Hardik Pandya Was An Important Part Of The Team: Chetan Sharma

The Chief Selector while naming the Test and T20I squads for the Sri Lanka series also gave an important update about Hardik Pandya’s health. He said that he will be considered for selection only if he is 100 per cent fit again. 

“Hardik was an important part of the Indian team. We will consider him again when he is 100% fit, is bowling and match-fit,”  said Sharma.

Chetan Sharma on Hardik Pandya:

Hardik was an important part of the Indian team. We will consider him again when he is 100% fit, is bowling and match-fit.#INDvWI

— Subhayan Chakraborty (@CricSubhayan) February 19, 2022

Earlier in the day, the BCCI selection panel announced the squads for the Test and the T20I series. Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, who were constant names in the Indian Test XI for a long time were axed from the squad. 

In another major development. Rohit Sharma was announced as the captain of the Indian Test team. He was already named the captain of India’s white-ball sides. An elevation as captain in Test cricket now makes him an all-format captain for India. 

India’s Test Squad For SL Series 

 Rohit Sharma (C), Mayank Agarwal, Priyank Panchal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Rishabh Pant (Wk), KS Bharat (Wk), Ravichandran Ashwin (Subject to Fitness), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah (VC), Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Saurabh Kumar

Also Read: Twitter Reacts As Rohit Sharma Gets Appointed India’s New Test Captain