“Work In Progress”: Hardik Pandya posts video of his rehab
Xtra Time Web Desk: Team India all-rounder Hardik Pandya has started his rehab after a freak injury during the game against Bangladesh in the recently concluded ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. Hardik suffered an ankle ligament tear while trying to stop a ball in his follow-through. The injury ruled him out of the remainder of the World Cup. He also missed the T20I series against Australia which followed. The selectors did not include him for the white ball squads for the upcoming series against South Africa.
Hardik made headlines for his move from Gujarat Titans to Mumbai Indians ahead of IPL 2024 auction. He was involved in a tripartite deal also involving Royal Challengers Bangalore. MI traded their Australian all-rounder Cameron Green to RCB in all-cash deal. The five-time IPL champions then brought Hardik for an all-cash trade worth INR 15 crore.
The star all-rounder took to social media post a video of his rehab. The video captioned “WIP ?” (work in progress) has a collage of his fitness drills.
Hardik’s return to action will take a bit longer than expected as the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and National Cricket Academy (NCA) is not in favour of rushing him. With the T20 World Cup next year in the Caribbean and USA, the Indian cricket board unlikely going to rush Hardik as he is an integral member of the team especially in T20 format.
Considering the upcoming T20 World Cup cycles in 2024 and 2026, the BCCI and NCA implemented an 18-week high-performance program exclusively tailored for Pandya. This comprehensive rehabilitation, distinct from the initial focus on a speedy recovery, includes cardio, strength training, functional training, and rest and recovery. The program aims to ensure his body responds positively to varied approaches.
