According to the sources, the Board of Cricket Control for India will only allow Hardik Pandya to participate in the IPL 2022 If he clears the fitness test.
Hardik has already reported at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru as per the latest news. The Allrounder will now have to go under different mandatory fitness tests.
Earlier, Mumbai Indians released him ahead of the Mega Auction in Bengaluru, Now Hardik has to clear the fitness tests to play to feature in the Indian Premier League for his home team Gujarat Titans.
A BCCI source told PTI “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,”
As you all know Hardik has not played any competitive cricket after the T20I World Cup in UAE in which Hardik did not bowl a single over and failed to make any significant contributions. Hardik also withdrew his name from the Ranji Trophy 2022 for his home state team Baroda.
Earlier, Ahmedabad Franchise picked Hardik Pandya for a whopping 15cr INR in the draft along with Rashid Khan and Shubham gill who were picked for 15 and 8cr INR respectively. If Gujarat is looking to play Hardik Pandya purely as a batter and a captain then he is ready to go but if he will be looking to bowl then he has to clear the fitness test according to a source from BCCI.
The BCCI source made it clear that Hardik Pandya needs to pass the fitness test since it is compulsory for the cricketers. Few of the Delhi Capitals players have also joined Hardik at the National Cricket Academy in Bengaluru for the fitness test.
It will be the first time that Hardik will play for any other team in IPL than Mumbai Indians as he was with Mumbai Franchise from 2015 to 2021 he was part of 4 Titles won for the Mumbai Indians. From 2015-to 2021, Hardik has amassed1,476 runs at a strike rate of 153.91 along with claiming 42 wickets for Mumbai Indians.
