Hardik Pandya Reports At NCA To Prove Fitness Ahead Of IPL 2022

Hardik Pandya's availability as Gujarat Titans captain in IPL 2022 is under the scanner.

Hardik Pandya has been battling fitness issues for a very long time now. Since 2019, Hardik has been undergoing several health changes that have also resulted in him not being able to bowl. 

Pandya's 'all-rounder' tag has come under scanner post his back surgery after which his bowling has been gone for a toss. 

In the last two IPL seasons, Pandya didn't bowl and in turn, wasn't retained by Mumbai Indians(MI). However, due to his high skills - the new IPL franchise Gujarat Titans drafted him and made him the captain. 

Hardik Pandya's fitness is still a concern and he has been out of the national team for the same reason. In October, India will fly to Australia for the T20 World Cup and Pandya will only be considered for selection if he proves his fitness. 

For that, Pandya has reported to the National Cricket Academy(NCA) in Bengaluru ahead of the IPL 2022 where he will undergo fitness tests for the next few days. He will need to pass those tests or his availability to lead Gujarat Titans in the IPL might be difficult. 

“Hardik will be at the NCA for the next two days and appear in the various fitness tests. He is a centrally contracted cricketer and has not played any cricket since T20 World Cup in UAE,” a BCCI source told as quoted by PTI. 

“He would need to pass the fitness test as it has been mandatory for some time now. Last year, even Shreyas Iyer appeared for a fitness test post shoulder surgery before playing IPL,” he added.

Gujarat Titans New Jersey Launch

On 13th March, Gujarat Titans launched their jersey for the IPL 2022. Hardik Pandya was also present at the jersey that happened in Ahmedabad along with head coach Ashish Nehra, Director of Cricket Vikram Solanki and BCCI secretary Jay Shah and other team members and officials. 

Other members of the Gujarat Titans squad -- Wriddhiman Saha, Varun Aaron, Vijay Shankar, Yash Dayal, Darshan Nalkande, Abhinav Manohar, and B Sai Sudharshan were also present at the jersey launch event.