Gujarat Titans skipper Hardik Pandya, after attending the jersey launch event of the franchise, has finally reached the National Cricket Academy. The all-rounder will undergo various fitness tests for the next couple of days.

Being a contrary-contracted player, the Baroda all-rounder will get clearance to participate in IPL 2022 only after clearing the fitness tests held under the supervision of the NCA medical staff.

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Despite being one of the biggest losers in the BCCI’s latest central contract list, Hardik is still mandated to get a green signal from the NCA to take part in the mega event which begins on March 26.

The 28-year-old is not a part of the Test squad anymore and is not even a regular feature in India’s white-ball set-up, with his last international appearance coming during the T20 World Cup last year.

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Given the uncertainty over his fitness, the fast-bowling all-rounder was dropped from Grade A to Grade C, which in monetary terms means a decline of Rs 4 crore.

According to a news agency PTI report, Hardik would need to pass the fitness test just like any other centrally contracted cricketer before he is allowed to go and lead Gujarat Titans.

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The report further adds that batting and fielding might not be an issue for the all-rounder but the biggest concern continues to be his bowling.

“Hardik will be at the NCA for 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,” a BCCI source was quoted as saying by PTI.

© Instagram/Hardik Pandya

“He would need to pass the fitness test as it has been mandatory for some time now. Last year, even Shreyas Iyer appeared for a fitness test post shoulder surgery before playing IPL,” he added.

Hardik has not spilled the beans on whether he would be bowling in the IPL or would be playing a specialist batter. Speaking at Gujarat Titans’ jersey launch event in Ahmedabad, he said that his bowling would be a “surprise” which pissed off many fans.

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Hardik was summoned by the NCA to attend the camp but he sought some time so that he could attend his franchise’s jersey unveiling event at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

The fans of Indian cricket hailed the BCCI’s decision to not exempt Hardik from clearing the fitness tests and treating him just like any other player who is currently on way to full recovery. 

© Reuters

Some even opined that this protocol should have been followed last year as well and he should not have been allowed to play with injuries.

This should have been the case for the previous ipl as well, when he played with an injury,we all know what happened in T20 world bcz of that. He is a very important part of the white ball setup wether we like it or not as he is the only player who can bowl at 140 and bat at 6

— RedDevil1819 (@Suhail18191) March 15, 2022

So that was the big surprise hardik kept saying about

— Sailesh (@RSailesh26) March 15, 2022

If this is true then this is a very good decision… First national duty and then IPL duty… He should realize now that he is not a certain in Team India anymore…

— Ishiraj (@Ishiraj1) March 15, 2022

Music to the ears

— S (@LezzGooVamos) March 15, 2022

Well done BCCI

— Chatra Ram Parmar (@ChatraParmar) March 15, 2022

very good desition

— pradeep sharma (@pradeep71014883) March 15, 2022

Excellent work

— Rishabh Trivedi (@Rishumahi07) March 15, 2022

Given the embarrassment they faced after the T20 World Cup last year, the national selectors don’t want to take any chance with him.

Hardik is most likely to get a green signal to lead Gujarat Titans in the upcoming season but a pure batter. The decision whether to bowl or not is not in his hands anymore and would depend on the report of the NCA experts.

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