Hardik Pandya’s health has been questioned after he fractured his ankle during the 2023 World Cup match against Bangladesh on October 19.
While the team management waited as long as they could, expecting Hardik Pandya would return to the fold, he was finally ruled out of the competition. A source told CricketNext that the all-rounder is undergoing an 18-week rehabilitation program at the NCA.
According to the source, the goal is to increase Hardik Pandya’s endurance while simultaneously giving him ample time to recuperate fully. According to the source:
“We speak of workload management. This is precisely what it is all about. Is there a doubt on his ability as a T20 cricketer? No. What we rather need is setting long-term goals and ensuring endurance levels remain up to the mark.”
Hardik may have played in T20Is against South Africa and Afghanistan, but the goal was to get him back to peak physical form. According to the source, Hardik Pandya’s unexpected accident did not indicate that he was prone to injuries:
“Pandya’s earlier injury (back) was completely different from the freak injury or say ‘accident’ he suffered during the Bangladesh game in Pune.
“There is no relation between the two, and it would be unfair to say he wasn’t in top shape for the World Cup or to suggest that he is injury-prone. He made a successful comeback from the back injury, has been in superb shape, and it was just an unfortunate incident.”
Hardik Pandya Follows a Customized Programme, Not the First One to Do So
According to the source, the NCA devised similar tailored strategies for other cricketers like as Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, and Jasprit Bumrah, who were all sidelined with long-term ailments.
The insider went on to say:
“It is not something new. Shreyas, Bumrah and KL underwent similar programmes during their long injury layoffs and the routine is designed keeping the next assignments in mind.
“Say for KL, wicket-keeping, subcontinent heat and everything was taken into account. Similarly, Bumrah was eased into cricket with Ireland T20Is before he went full throttle in the Asia Cup.”
Hardik Pandya might make a comeback in the IPL 2024 season.
