Hardik Pandya Unlikely For South Africa Tour, Asked To Report At The NCA

Hardik Pandya will not board the plane to South Africa as he seems unlikely to be fit in time for the series. The Indian all-rounder has been asked to report to the NCA where he will have to undergo rehabilitation and prove his fitness before making his way back into the Indian team. Included in the team for the T20 World Cup, Hardik did not have performances to make the selectors keep him in the team.

Hardik Pandya was not included in the T20I squad for the New Zealand series. He has been out of the Test squad since late 2018 as well. According to sources, Hardik’s place in the squad for South Africa series will depend on his recovery process at the NCA.

“His recovery from injury will mainly depend on rest. He should be visiting the NCA soon and we will take a call on his inclusion in South Africa tour depending on his fitness.”

Meanwhile, Venkatesh Iyer is being seen as a replacement for Hardik Pandya in the long run. He is being groomed to be India’s ideal all-rounder as well. Against NZ in the third T20I, Iyer scored a quickfire 20 and picked up his maiden T20I wicket as well.

The BCCI official, further said that Hardik is nowhere close to the fitness level required to play Test cricket. He bowled in short spells against England and then against Sri Lanka, before bowling a few overs in the T20 World Cup.

Hardik Pandya’s Fitness Is Nowhere Close To The Level Required For Test Cricket: BCCI Official

“At this moment, he is no way near the required fitness level for Test cricket. He needs time and we don’t want to rush things like was the case before the World Cup. If he is ready, he will be sent for the ODI and T20 series.”

The management is willing him to go back and play domestic cricket, the BCCI official said. He concluded by saying that selectors will consider him eligible for selection only if he can prove his fitness.

“Playing in Vijay Hazare will be up to his fitness. We have important series coming up and it is better for him to be fit than playing in Hazare. But that is a call that needs to be taken after he is fully fit. At the moment, he is not. If he wants to play, it will be up to him.”

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