Hardik Pandya has not played a match since the T20 World Cup last October. Though, the Indian team’s think tank has not given up on him and has asked to report for the camp in Bangalore. He is asked to join the camp that is underway from March 5.
The 28-year-old Baroda cricketer has enough time in his hand to make a decision on whether to join the camp or not. However, Hardik Pandya’s brother Krunal Pandya has not been asked to report.
The camp’s intention of asking Hardik Pandya to report
The camp, in fact, has been called keeping the October T20 World Cup in mind with Indian coach Rahul Dravid and selectors driving the process. The assembled 25 players, apparently, have only been for the white-ball specialists.
Some important sources suggest that although the World Cup is more than six months away, the planning could be done now. The selectors and the coaches want to assess the fitness of the players and take a look at the things before the big tournament. Hardik Pandya being called to the Bangalore camp is a sign that the Indian squad management has him in the scheme and could fit him in the World Cup squad.
Hardik Pandya played against Namibia on November 8th last time and has not played since then. Multiple sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have confirmed that the all-rounder will be attending the camp.
IPL franchises unhappy over Bangalore camp
Meanwhile, the camp has created a sort of ruckus among the various stakeholders of Indian cricket. Various Indian Premier League teams expressed their objection towards the camp in front of the officials. The problem that they addressed was the lack of players ahead of the season.
With the IPL set to commence on March 26, the franchises would choose to have the players by March 12 so that they can engage them in various pre-match activities.
Eventually, both the parties seem to have reached some sort of consensus that the final five days of the Bangalore camp will be taking place in a bio-secure bubble environment.
