Ravi Shastri's Fitness Roadmap for Hardik Pandya

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has charted a rigorous fitness path for star all-rounder Hardik Pandya following his snub from T20I captaincy. Shastri believes Hardik's spectacular T20 World Cup performance can inspire him to maintain top fitness levels and reclaim leadership roles in the future.

Former Indian head coach Ravi Shastri has outlined a demanding fitness trajectory for the star all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Shastri's comments come after Pandya was overlooked for the T20I captaincy, with selectors citing his inconsistent fitness record.

Shastri pointed to Pandya's impressive performances in the ICC T20 World Cup, where the all-rounder played a significant role in ending India's 11-year ICC trophy drought, as a source of inspiration for his return to peak fitness.

"It is crucial for him to keep playing and maintain match fitness," Shastri said in a conversation with the ICC Review host Sanjana Ganesan. He stressed that Pandya's ability to bowl consistently would be vital for his role in the team.

Hardik's career has been plagued by injuries, notably a severe back injury in 2018, which required surgery and extended rehabilitation. More recently, an ankle injury during the Cricket World Cup 2023 further sidelined him.

Despite these challenges, Pandya's recent performances have been noteworthy. He scored 144 runs and took 11 wickets in the T20 World Cup, including key contributions in crucial matches.

Shastri believes Pandya's success in the World Cup should serve as motivation for him to achieve full fitness. "He understands his body better than anyone and doesn't need external motivation," Shastri concluded.