Can Hardik Pandya once again become the player who gives Team India the balance it has been missing?
With the 2027 ODI World Cup now the long term target, the Indian all rounder has reportedly begun an intense training programme at the BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru.
Hardik has shifted to Bengaluru and rented a property near the Centre of Excellence to maintain a regular training routine.
He reportedly trains for three to four hours every evening, with sessions beginning around 4 p.m. after most players have left the facility, allowing him to work without interruptions.
A major part of his preparation is an unusual batting drill. The report claims Hardik is practising with plastic balls on concrete and tiled surfaces to improve his reflexes against short pitched bowling.
He also follows a strict routine that includes fitness work, stretching, bowling practice and batting sessions with specialist throwdown experts and local bowlers.
For India, Hardik’s fitness is just as important as his form. Whenever he has been unavailable, the team has struggled to find a genuine pace bowling all-rounder capable of contributing with both bat and ball.
His presence gives India an extra bowling option without weakening the batting line up, making him a key player in both ODI and T20 cricket.
With nearly 14 month left before the 2027 World Cup, Hardik has already started putting in the hard yards. Can this special preparation help India’s star all rounder return to his very best when the team needs him the most?
