Overview
- Reports say Hardik Pandya has spent the last four months building his bowling workload and even skipped Mumbai Indians practice sessions to protect his body during the IPL.
- After the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence withheld clearance on Jan 3 for him to bowl a full ODI spell, he delivered 10 overs and took 3 for 66 in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match five days later.
- Selectors plan for South Africa’s fast, bouncy pitches in 2027 and want him available to bowl up to 10 overs even if he is usually used for 6 to 7.
- The selection panel is also preparing backup seam-bowling options, with Nitish Kumar Reddy increasing his bowling load in domestic cricket.
- He has worked on in-swingers and new-ball skills while training between Mumbai and Baroda, reflecting a push to prove he can handle sustained ODI spells.