Hardik Pandya Gears Up For India-Bangladesh T20I Series, Video Of Working Out At Gym Goes Viral – News18
Hardik Pandya trains at gym. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
Hardik Pandya last played for India on July 30 against Sri Lanka in Pallekele, and apart from remaining unbeaten on 22 runs from nine balls, he also picked up two wickets.
Star Indian all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who played a big role in helping India win the 2024 edition of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, is all set to make a return to competitive cricket next month. The 30-year-old cricketer last played for India against Sri Lanka in Pallekele on July 30 and is expected to be back for the three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in October.
After the conclusion of two Tests, India will face Bangladesh in three T20Is on October 6, 9, and 12 in Gwalior, Delhi, and Hyderabad, respectively.
Ahead of India’s team announcement for the bilateral series in front of home fans, Hardik took to Instagram on Wednesday (September 11) to share a video of him working out at gym. In the clip, he can be seen lifting weights along with doing some stretching exercise.
Earlier on Tuesday as well, the Baroda-based cricketer posted four pictures of him training on the field, and in two of them he can be seen doing batting practice.
Hardik, who has played in 102 T20Is so far, was ignored by BCCI for the role of Indian captain in the three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka in July. In his place, former world No. 1 T20I batter Suryakumar Yadav was appointed as Indian captain, and the right-handed batter led India to a 3-0 series win.
Hardik was leading the race to become India’s new T20I captain after Rohit Sharma announced his retirement from the shortest format of the game on June 29, following India’s win in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. But things did go as per plan. In fact, Hardik was also removed as T20I captain, and in his place, Shubman Gill was appointed as Surya’s deputy.
Gill, who made his captaincy debut for India in the five-match T20I series against Zimbabwe in July 2024, was named as Rohit’s deputy for the ODI series as well, which India lost by a margin of 0-2 in Colombo.
Rohit and Gill will be back in action for India next week when the first Test of the two-match series against Bangladesh gets underway at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on September 19.