Cricket News

Aakash Chopra weighs in on why Hardik Pandya received a central contract

The recent Indian Cricket Board central contract announcements sparked debate, particularly regarding the exclusion of Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, and the inclusion of Hardik Pandya. While the snub of Kishan and Iyer raised questions about prioritizing white-ball cricket over the Ranji Trophy, Pandya’s situation is more nuanced.

The Board’s emphasis on domestic first-class cricket, particularly the Ranji Trophy, is understandable. It’s a traditional breeding ground for Test talents, and participation demonstrates a player’s commitment to the longest format. Kishan and Iyer‘s absence from the Ranji Trophy raised concerns about their focus on lucrative IPL contracts and white-ball cricket.

However, Hardik Pandya presents a unique situation. Injuries, particularly back issues, have significantly impacted his ability to play red-ball cricket. The demands of Test matches, with their long durations and physical strain, are deemed too risky for his fitness.

The Board acknowledges this limitation. Pandya’s body simply isn’t suited for the rigours of Test cricket. But his value in white-ball formats, as a seam-bowling all-rounder with explosive batting, is undeniable. He’s a crucial cog in India’s limited-overs machine.

So, the Indian Cricket Board seems to have taken a pragmatic approach. Reports suggest Pandya secured his contract after assuring participation in white-ball domestic tournaments when not on national duty. This demonstrates his commitment to domestic cricket while acknowledging his physical limitations.

“So why should Pandya play first-class cricket?”- Aakash Chopra

Recently, former India opener, Aakash Chopra took to YouTube to present his views on the matter. In his opinion, Pandya’s case is different from that of the two snubbed players, as mentioned above. Aakash Chopra said that since Pandya isn’t aiming for a Test spot, there’s no need for him to play first-class matches, which require a significant bowling workload. Chopra argued that forcing first-class cricket on Pandya, given his injury history, would be pointless.

“Hardik Pandya’s case is very simple. He is not playing red-ball cricket. That ambition or aspiration does not exist anymore. He has not said that as such, but the truth is that he is not available at all for any Test series. So if you are not at all auditioning for Tests, no one will ask you to play first-class cricket. Why would you play four-day games when you don’t have that much strength in your body to bowl so many overs and have injury problems? So why should he play,” the 46-year-old said.

Chopra further defends Pandya by saying that as long as he participates in white-ball domestic tournaments like the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy and Vijay Hazare Trophy when available, there’s no reason to penalize him. Chopra emphasized that Pandya isn’t neglecting his domestic duties; he’s simply prioritizing his fitness by avoiding unnecessary workload during breaks from international cricket.

“If he stops for India despite being fit. If he is on break and doesn’t want to play Syed Mushtaq Ali or Vijay Hazare Trophy for promotion or a video shoot or other such works. Then you can say he is wrong. But currently, he is not. And why would you punish him if he has not made a mistake?” said Chopra.