The current announcement of Board of Management for Cricket in India (BCCI)‘s centrally contracted players for the 2023-24 season stirred controversy, notably with Hardik Pandya being placed in Grade A. This move faced scrutiny as Shreyas Iyer and Ishan Kishan opted out due to non-compliance with BCCI regulations on domestic cricket.
Backlash over Hardik Pandya’s Grade A inclusion
Questions arose concerning Pandya’s eligibility, given his absence from each worldwide and home cricket since sustaining an damage within the ODI World Cup 2023. Critics argued that being out of Check cricket because of a fragile again and rare participation in home cricket ought to disqualify him from Grade A.
Aakash Chopra defends BCCI’s choice on Hardik Pandya
Chopra stepped in to defend the BCCI’s choice, asserting that Pandya shouldn’t be penalized for not taking part in first-class cricket, particularly as he isn’t in rivalry for a Check squad spot.
“Hardik Pandya’s case is very simple. Why would you punish him if he has not made a mistake? 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,” Chopra stated on his YouTube Channel.
“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 – fair play,” the 46-year-old concluded.
Additionally READ: Full listing of gamers faraway from BCCI’s annual contracts for 2023-24 season
A chronological perspective
Chopra supplied a chronological account of Pandya’s restricted home cricket involvement, citing damage issues and emphasizing that Pandya by no means made himself unavailable.
“Let’s try to understand the chronology slightly. It will just clear up your mind why a different rule has been kept for him and why it is wrong to include him with Ishan and Shreyas. He got injured during the World Cup, which was October-November,” the Agra-born cricketer said.
“The Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy was over in October-November. He was playing in the World Cup for India at that time. The last match that Baroda played in the Vijay Hazare Trophy was on 5th December. He was not fit and available. He wasn’t practicing anywhere but was recovering from his injury in the NCA,” Chopra concluded.
Pandya’s cricketing comeback: From damage to IPL management
Pandya suffered an ankle damage within the World Cup 2023 in opposition to Bangladesh in Pune, resulting in his absence from cricket. However, he made a comeback within the DY Patil event 2024 and is slated to captain the Mumbai Indians (MI) within the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024.