After being overlooked for the T20I captaincy, former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has advised star all-rounder Hardik Pandya to prioritize playing time and draw inspiration from his ICC T20 World Cup heroics to maintain peak fitness.
Pandya, who served as Rohit Sharma’s deputy during India’s triumphant T20 World Cup campaign, was considered a frontrunner to succeed Rohit as captain. However, he was named only as a player for the ongoing Sri Lanka tour, with Suryakumar Yadav appointed as T20I captain and Shubman Gill as vice-captain.
Shastri attributed Pandya’s fitness concerns as the primary reason for his exclusion from the captaincy. Chief selector Ajit Agarkar emphasized the need for a consistently available player, which tipped the scales against Pandya.
In an interview with The ICC Review, Shastri urged Pandya to play as much as possible to regain match fitness. He advised Pandya to participate in all available T20I matches and consider playing in one-day games if he feels fit enough.
However, Shastri stressed the importance of bowling consistently for Pandya to be considered for one-day cricket. He noted that a player who can only bowl three overs in a one-day game would disrupt the team’s balance.
Pandya has a history of major injuries dating back to 2018, including a stress fracture and back surgery. He also sustained an ankle injury during the Cricket World Cup 2023.
Despite these setbacks, Pandya showcased his exceptional talent in the T20 World Cup, scoring crucial runs and taking important wickets. He played a pivotal role in India’s victory in the final, taking the wickets of Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller in the last over.
Shastri believes that Pandya’s recent performances should motivate him to regain full fitness. He emphasized that Pandya understands his body better than anyone and should be inspired by his World Cup heroics to prioritize his fitness.
