Hardik Pandya gears up to bowl full quota at 2027 ODI World Cup
Hardik Pandya is actively working to prove his fitness for bowling 10 overs in ODIs, aiming to be a key player for the 2027 World Cup. Despite initial concerns from the BCCI, he has demonstrated his readiness in domestic matches and is undergoing rigorous training to assure selectors of his bowling capabilities.
New Delhi : Hardik Pandya didn’t turn up for either of the two afternoon practice sessions of Mumbai Indians ahead of their Saturday match against Delhi Capitals. Understandably, the Mumbai Indians captain doesn’t want to push his injury-prone body during the gruelling two-month IPL schedule. Hardik, however, is fighting another battle besides planning the campaign for the five-time champions.
TOI understands he has been working overtime for the last four months to assure the Indian team management and the selectors that he is ready to bowl his full quota of 10 overs in ODI games beyond the IPL. India’s preparation for the ODI World Cup in Oct-Nov 2027 will be in full swing after the IPL. While announcing the team for the three-match ODI series against New Zealand on Jan 3, Indian cricket board (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia mentioned that Hardik was not cleared to bowl 10 overs in a match by the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE).
The BCCI release also claimed that Hardik was being preserved for the subsequent T20 World Cup. Interestingly, five days later, Hardik bowled 10 overs for figures of 3/66 in a Vijay Hazare Trophy match against Chandigarh. TOI has learnt that Hardik had reached out to the selectors and the Indian team management in January itself.
The team management has conveyed to him that they would prefer his availability to bowl 10 overs leading up to the World Cup in South Africa next year. It must be noted that Hardik suffered a quadriceps injury before the Asia Cup final in September and made a comeback in T20I cricket on Dec 9 in the series against South Africa. Sources told TOI that Hardik had communicated his desire to play in both white-ball formats, but the BCCI took a conservative approach with the T20 World Cup in mind.